Archaeologists have made a groundbreaking discovery, unearthing the “oldest known hand-held wooden tool” at a Middle Pleistocene site in Marathusa 1, Greece.
Impression of a Marathusa 1 female artist crafting a digging stick using small stone tools from an alder trunk. Image credit: G. Prieto / K. Harvati.
According to Professor Katerina Herberty from the University of Tübingen, “The Middle Pleistocene was crucial for human evolution, marking a period when complex behaviors emerged.”
“This era also showcases the earliest reliable evidence of the targeted use of plants for technological purposes.”
The 430,000-year-old wooden tools discovered at the Marathusa 1 site, led by Professor Harbati and his team, consist of worked alder trunks and small willow/poplar artifacts.
The primary tool is made from alder wood (Alnus sp.) and features engraving marks along with associated stop and chop marks, indicating intentional shaping.
This approximately 81 cm long artifact displays signs of usage consistent with a multifunctional rod likely employed for paleolakeshore excavation.
The second tool, a small piece of willow/poplar (Salix sp./Populus sp.), measures 5.7 cm and exhibits signs of rounding.
This object shows two signs of potential processing, suggesting that growth rings have been removed from one end.
Researchers hypothesize that this small wooden tool’s function remains uncertain but may have been utilized for modifying stone tools.
Alongside these wooden tools, scientists uncovered butchered remains of an elephant with straight tusks (Paleoloxodon Antique), as well as stone artifacts and processed bones.
Dr. Annemieke Milks, a researcher at the University of Reading, states, “Unlike stone artifacts, wooden objects need special conditions to survive over long durations.”
“We meticulously examined all tree remains, analyzing the surfaces under a microscope.”
“Our findings revealed clear evidence of cutting and carving on these two objects, strongly indicating that early humans intentionally shaped them.”
A multifunctional digging stick (top) and small wooden tools (bottom) from the Marathusa 1 site in Greece. Image credit: D. Michailidis / N. Thompson / K. Harvati.
Additionally, researchers found a large fragment of an alder trunk exhibiting deep carved stripes, interpreted as fossilized claw marks from a large carnivore. This suggests potential competition between early humans and carnivores at this site.
Evidence of cuts and damage on the elephant remains indicate that early hominins had access to the carcass, while gnawing marks reveal subsequent carnivorous activity.
Dr. Milks added, “Previous discoveries of ancient wooden tools have occurred in countries such as Britain, Zambia, Germany, and China, comprising weapons, digging sticks, and tool handles.” However, she noted that these finds date newer than the Marathusa 1 artifacts.
“The only evidence of ancient wood used by humans, dating to around 476,000 years ago, comes from the Kalambo Falls site in Zambia, where the wood served as structural material rather than tools.”
“We have now identified the oldest known wooden tools and the first of their kind from southeastern Europe,” emphasized Professor Herberty.
“This discovery highlights the exceptional conservation conditions at the Marathusa 1 site.”
“The concurrent evidence of human activity and large carnivores in the vicinity of the butchered elephant indicates a competitive dynamic between them.”
Details of these findings are published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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A. Chemilux et al. 2026. The earliest evidence of human use of wooden hand tools, discovered at Marathusa 1 (Greece). PNAS 123 (6): e2515479123; doi: 10.1073/pnas.25154791
Recent findings reveal that these stencils are over 15,000 years older than cave paintings in another Sulawesi cave, which were dated in 2024. The painting features three anthropomorphic figures interacting with pigs, believed to be approximately 51,200 years old.
“I thought my previous work was impressive, but this photo completely eclipsed it,” Blum remarked.
“This underscores the long-standing tradition of rock art creation in this region. It spans an incredible timeline,” he emphasized.
Researchers are optimistic about uncovering even older art forms, including narrative art, in Indonesia, a largely unexplored archaeological treasure trove.
Liang Methanduno, a prominent cave art location, attracts tourists. However, most artworks discovered so far, depicting domestic animals like chickens, are relatively recent, estimated to be around 4,000 years old.
In 2015, Indonesian rock art expert and lead author, Adi Octaviana, spotted a faint drawing behind a modern painting, speculating it might be an ancient hand-painted stencil.
“These had never been documented before; their existence was unknown until Addy discovered them,” Blum stated.
Previous generations of researchers exploring Ice Age cave art, dating back 30,000 to 40,000 years in regions like France and Spain, believed it marked the dawn of modern artistic culture.
However, recent discoveries in Indonesia indicate that humans outside Europe were crafting “extraordinarily sophisticated” cave art tens of thousands of years ago, even before our species arrived in that area.
Ancient cave paintings in Sulawesi. Maxime Aubert/AFP – Getty Images
Blum noted that this discovery could also shed light on the timeline of when the first humans settled in Australia.
It is widely accepted that Aboriginal populations have inhabited Australia for at least 50,000 years, though evidence suggests one of the country’s archaeological sites is around 65,000 years old.
“The finding of 67,000 to 68,000-year-old rock art on Sulawesi, nearly adjacent to Australia, supports the theory that modern humans may have arrived in Australia at least 65,000 years ago,” Blum explained.
Paleontologists conducted an analysis of the path taken by an exceptionally long sauropod at the West Gold Hill Dinosaur Tracking Station in Colorado, USA. Their findings suggest that the massive dinosaurs responsible for it might have exhibited a limp.
Aerial view of the West Gold Hill dinosaur track site in Colorado, USA. Image credit: USDA Forest Service.
Paleontologist Anthony Romilio from the University of Queensland and his team examined over 130 footprints along a 95.5-meter trail that dates back 150 million years.
“This is a remnant from the late Jurassic period, a time when long-necked dinosaurs like diplodocus and camarasaurus thrived across North America,” stated Dr. Romilio.
“This track is particularly special because it forms a complete loop.”
“Although the reason for the dinosaur’s turnaround remains unclear, this trajectory provides a rare chance to analyze how the substantial sauropod executed a sharp turn before returning to its original direction.”
“The scale of the West Gold Hill Dinosaur Track necessitated a novel approach,” remarked Paul Murphy, a paleontologist from the San Diego Museum of Natural History.
“Given the size of the tracks, capturing these footprints from the ground proved to be quite challenging.”
“We utilized a drone to photograph the entire track in high resolution.”
“These images can now be leveraged to create detailed 3D models that can be digitally examined in the lab with millimeter-level accuracy.”
The virtual model reconstructed the sauropod’s movement throughout the entire path.
“It became evident right away that this animal started moving northeast, looped around, and ultimately ended up facing the same direction,” Dr. Romilio explained.
“Within that circular path, we discovered subtle yet consistent indications of its behavior.”
“A notable observation was the variance in width between the left and right footprints, which changed from very narrow to distinctly wide.”
“This transition from narrow to wide footprints suggests that the width may naturally fluctuate as dinosaurs walked. This implies that short segments of seemingly uniform width could misrepresent their typical walking style.”
“We also noted a small but ongoing difference in stride length of roughly 10 cm (4 inches) between the left and right sides.”
“It’s challenging to determine if this signifies a limp or merely a preference for one side.”
“Many extensive dinosaur trails worldwide could benefit from this method to uncover previously hidden behavioral insights.”
The team’s study was published in the journal Geography.
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Anthony Romilio et al. 2025. Track by track: West Gold Hill Dinosaur Tracking Site (Upper Jurassic, Bluff Sandstone, Colorado) reveals sauropod rotation and lateralized gait. Geography 5(4):67;doi: 10.3390/geomatics5040067
Two of the most popular gay dating applications in China have been removed from the country’s app stores, sparking concerns about increased repression of the LGBT community.
As of Tuesday, Blued and Finka were no longer accessible on Apple’s app store and certain Android platforms. Users who have previously downloaded the applications seem to still have access to them.
Both applications remain available for download from their official websites, and no official statement has been made regarding their removal.
In a statement to Wired, Apple remarked: “We adhere to the laws of the nations in which we operate. Following directives from the Cyberspace Administration of China, these two apps have been removed solely from our China storefront.”
Apple operates a distinct app store in China, in compliance with local regulations. Popular applications such as Facebook, Instagram, and other Western social media platforms are inaccessible to Chinese users. Furthermore, international dating apps like Grindr and Tinder are also blocked.
Blued, which was established in China in 2012, is the nation’s most popular dating app for gay men, boasting over 40 million registered users globally. Despite diversifying into live streaming and other services in recent years, it primarily remains an app catered to gay men.
The parent company of Blued acquired Finka in 2020.
Although homosexuality is legal in China, the public expression of LGBT identities has become increasingly suppressed after years of progressive changes. LGBT civil society organizations have been forced to shut down, and China’s largest Pride event, Shanghai Pride, was canceled in 2020. In September, a horror film featuring a gay couple was modified digitally for its release in China.
The founder of an LGBT community organization, who wished to remain anonymous for safety reasons, expressed being “very shocked” at the removal of Blued and Finka from app stores.
“In recent years, the space for sexual minorities has been diminishing…but I was unprepared for the news that online spaces are also disappearing,” he stated.
“Do apps like Blued not aid in fostering social stability and harmony? Why remove them from app stores? I find it challenging to grasp the reasoning behind this,” he continued.
The reason for the app removals and their permanence remains unclear, but internet users have rapidly expressed their concerns.
One WeChat user remarked that Blued “helped countless individuals realize they were not alone, bringing a marginalized group into focus.”
The Cyberspace Administration of China was not available for comment.
Researchers from Stellenbosch University and other institutions utilized advanced uranium-lead (U-Pb) dating along with elemental mapping to analyze traces of uranium and lead in the calcite of fossilized dinosaur eggshells discovered in the United States and Mongolia.
An artist’s reconstruction of a troodontid dinosaur that had just hatched from a fragment of an egg shell. Image credit: Eva Utsukiyouhei.
The ages of numerous fossil remains globally remain uncertain.
Without precise geological age data for fossils, paleontologists face challenges in comprehending the relationships among different species and ecosystems over time and across regions.
Traditionally, they depend on dating minerals like zircon and apatite found alongside fossils, but these minerals are not always available.
Efforts to date fossils such as bones and teeth often lead to ambiguous results.
Dr. Ryan Tucker and his team at Stellenbosch University adopted a novel strategy. They applied advanced U-Pb dating and elemental mapping to identify trace quantities of uranium and lead in the calcite of fossilized dinosaur eggshells.
These isotopes function as a natural clock, enabling scientists to ascertain when an egg was buried.
Studies of dinosaur eggs sourced from Utah in the United States and Mongolia’s Gobi Desert have indicated that the eggshells can accurately reflect their ages to about 5% in comparison to the true ages of volcanic ash.
In Mongolia, researchers have for the first time directly dated a significant area where dinosaur eggs and nests have been preserved, tracing back to approximately 75 million years ago.
“Eggshell calcite is remarkably adaptable,” states Dr. Tucker.
“This introduces a fresh method for dating fossil sites lacking volcanic layers, which has posed a challenge for paleontology for many years.”
By demonstrating that dinosaur eggshells can reliably record geological time, this research bridges biology and earth sciences, providing scientists with a powerful tool for dating fossil remains worldwide.
“Directly dating fossils is a dream for paleontologists,” remarked Dr. Lindsay Zanno, a paleontologist at North Carolina State University and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.
“With this innovative technology, we can tackle previously insurmountable riddles of dinosaur evolution.”
The team’s study was published in the journal Communication Earth and Environment.
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RT Tucker et al. 2025. U-Pb calcite dating of fossil eggshells as an accurate deep-earth chronometer. Communication Earth and Environment 6,872; doi: 10.1038/s43247-025-02895-w
It was the perfect backdrop for a Nancy Meyers film. We found ourselves at a friend’s rehearsal dinner in Oregon’s wine country, nestled in a rustic-chic barn that exuded a subtle sense of luxury. “This venue is amazing,” I said to the groom-to-be. He leaned in as if to share a secret: “Found it on ChatGPT.”
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As he explained that he had incorporated generative AI into the early stages of his wedding planning, a smile crept onto my face. (They also hired a human wedding planner.) They were attentive, yet I realized that if my future partner approached me with wedding suggestions from ChatGPT, the wedding would be off.
Many have non-negotiable preferences in relationships. I don’t smoke, I love cats, and I wish to have children. With recent warnings about the impending AI crisis dominating my newsfeed and conversations, I formulated a new boundary: I won’t date anyone who uses ChatGPT. (To be fair, it could refer to any generative AI, but with 700 million weekly users, ChatGPT is my primary target.)
I’ve heard all the hypothetical scenarios. I use it in my professional life, but what lies beyond? What if it benefits others? What if you just want to utilize it as a proofing tool? Personally, I never use it to “write” anything. I believe there are people out there who can genuinely assist you, but I’m not one of them.
The phrase “feeling sick” signifies being turned off. Sometimes, we encounter behaviors that irk us—like the time I felt nauseated watching a man sip a smoothie through a straw. Initially, my distaste for ChatGPT seemed trivial, a baseless detestation.
Now, in the fall of 2025, using this program for even mundane tasks like crafting a fitness plan or selecting an outfit feels increasingly like a political statement. We’re aware that energy-consuming technologies drain water supplies and escalate electricity costs. It’s marketed as a helper for building relationships, yet isolated individuals are forging connections with algorithms instead of people—a current reality, not just a plot for sci-fi. The tech moguls spearheading this shift prioritize profit over humanity.
Sure, ChatGPT can help draft a shopping list. But does your convenience surpass the potential social repercussions?
As if that weren’t enough, ChatGPT has somehow exacerbated the dating scene. A good friend shared a recent experience where, after spending the night with a guy, she suggested breakfast. He pulled out his phone, opened ChatGPT, and asked for restaurant recommendations. Why would anyone want to date someone who offloads decision-making—especially for something as enjoyable as choosing a place to eat? If they’re too lazy to plan a first date with ChatGPT, how little effort will they expend in six months?
It’s hard to envision a deep, meaningful relationship with someone who frequently engages with technology that erodes our focus and possibly hints at our ultimate downfall. Intellectual curiosity, creativity, originality—if you equate productivity with an app summarizing a movie to save time, we likely don’t share the same values.
Ali Jackson, a New York-based dating coach, uses ChatGPT for some tasks but isn’t an advocate. Over the past six months, she notes many clients have expressed frustration with “chat phishing” and the use of AI-generated content even for dating apps. When I questioned Jackson about my critiques of ChatGPT users, she replied, “No, you can set your own boundaries, but that might limit your dating pool.” Approximately 10% of adults currently use this technology.
“Ask yourself if your preferences truly align with your long-term aspirations,” advises Jackson. “In your situation, I believe this could reflect a core value. It’s crucial to find someone who resonates with your principles.”
People’s aversion to AI extends beyond dating. Ana Pereira, 26, a sound engineer in Brooklyn, fantasizes about disabling AI features on her phone, yet platforms like Google and Spotify make opting out nearly impossible. Pereira thinks using ChatGPT “indicates profound laziness.”
“You seem unable to think independently and rely on apps for help,” she remarked. Recently, two of her friends endured harsh breakups, and she supported one who turned to ChatGPT, a notoriously ineffective therapy, instead of their partner to express feelings. “They wanted to avoid uncomfortable emotions,” she stated. “However, processing emotions isn’t that simple.”
Luciano Noisine echoes a similar sentiment. Richard Burns, a 31-year-old marine biologist and restaurant server in Hawaii, is equally fatigued. “I’m not sure how I feel about people using ChatGPT, but my response would be, ‘Here we go.’ You don’t need to rely on it for a shopping list. Your life shouldn’t be that challenging. We can create one together.”
When director Guillermo del Toro declared he’d “rather die” than use generative AI, it grabbed attention, as did SZA’s harsh words about “environmental racism” and concerns over tech firms creating a “co-dependent” user base. Figures like Simu Liu and Emily Blunt have also criticized AI’s role in various industries. It’s no wonder such statements resonate with the public.
Even within the tech industry, nuances exist. Last month, Pinterest introduced filters that enable users to eliminate AI-generated content. Meta allows users to mute similar actions on Instagram, though it doesn’t disable it entirely. Reports have surfaced of some Silicon Valley engineers becoming more “cursor-resistant,” hesitant to rely on AI for coding.
Luciano Neusine, a principal software engineer based in Greece and the Netherlands, was once eager to use AI for coding assistance. However, he grew aware of his dependencies. “Before, I was just on autopilot,” said Noisine, 27. Recently, when planning a rendezvous with a friend three hours away by train, she suggested using ChatGPT to pick a meeting spot. “There’s a city right in between us,” he pointed out. “Why not just look at a map?”
I don’t intend to date a technology-dependent Luddite, but I aspire to lead a life unencumbered by ChatGPT’s influence. Recently, I declared this sentiment on my dating app profile, replying to Hinge’s prompt about what would disqualify a potential date with “You use ChatGPT for absolutely everything.” This clearly conveys my main points.
uIn today’s world, it’s become quite typical to rely on dating apps in the quest for love. However, for many individuals, these platforms can feel like a double-edged sword. The clear advantage of having an infinite array of potential partners at your disposal is readily apparent—yet the downside of engaging with strangers can impose certain time constraints. The prolonged “swipe phase” can often be especially disheartening.
In 2023, the US jeweler Shane Company found that the average American dedicates around 8 months to dating apps, swiping through about 3,960 profiles before securing a partner. That said, for chronic daters, these figures might seem unrealistically promising. Conversations with friends and colleagues often reveal that years can pass “on the app” without any romantic fulfillment. The “Download, Deal, Repeat” cycle can be disheartening, and many users are experiencing increasing dating app fatigue. Last year’s Ofcom’s online Nation report indicated that app usage had significantly dropped, with the ten most popular dating apps seeing nearly a 16% decline. It’s not unexpected that Meta recently announced their plan to introduce AI assistants for Facebook dating. Meet Cute, their new “surprise match” feature, aims to help users “combat swipe fatigue.”
But it doesn’t have to be this way. According to the Pew Research Center, roughly 10% of heterosexual individuals and 24% of LGBTQ+ individuals find long-term partners via dating sites and apps. Is this merely a cosmic coincidence, or is there a secret ingredient to their success?
Liz, 28, from Nottingham, opened Bumble on a Wednesday and matched with her future husband the same day. They had their first date on Friday and remained together for eight years. Her advice for avoiding getting trapped in the app? Delete it.
Deleting apps is a more effective way to connect… Photo: Pose by a model. Emir Memedovski/Getty Images
“If you find someone you connect with, delete the app and focus entirely on that individual. You’re not on a dating show!” she advises. “After our first date, I realized I liked him a lot. I thought, ‘You have to concentrate on one person at a time.’ If it doesn’t work, you can always return to the app.”
She also realized that not everyone she swipes on is active on the app daily, indicating her interest.
While it’s tempting to keep all options available and engaging with multiple matches is generally accepted early in dating, Liz and her partner found that deleting Bumble within a week of their first meeting and focusing on one individual fostered a deeper connection.
Another effective strategy to avert the so-called choice paradox is to intentionally narrow down the dating pool. Joseph, 42, from Liverpool, believes in finding your niche. Glaser, someone he met through an app, became his fiancé ten months later, and they have been happily married for six years with two (vegan) children.
“It eliminated anything I was certain I didn’t want,” he shares. “We both knew we were on the same wavelength. It took a lot of pressure off. There were no awkward conversations about being vegan, nor discussions about raising children as vegans.”
Understanding what you’re seeking is crucial, say couples therapists and dating coaches like Shan Merchant. “Do they like to exercise, enjoy nature, or have a creative side?” Her advice is to use a mainstream app that attracts a large user base.
Naturally, being candid when crafting your app profile is a smart strategy to attract those whose interests and values align with yours.
“My approach was to filter out individuals so that I could engage with those genuinely interested,” explained Hanna, 39, from Leeds, who has been with her partner for seven years. She spent about a month on Bumble before they met and had only dated two others on the app.
“I had a theory about my photos,” Hanna shared. “I wanted them to portray my true self. My first photo was me all dolled up, but my second was a no-makeup garden shot, very authentic.”
Illustration: Michelle Thompson/Guardian
Several individuals I talked to emphasized that dating seriously was crucial to their success with apps, but for Hanna, the opposite rings true. After relocating back to North England from London ten years later, all she wished was to meet new people and rediscover her local area.
“I believe that mindset made a significant difference. I steered clear of checklists,” she states. “It helped me meet wonderful people,” she adds, “by letting go of preconceived notions and remaining open to new experiences.”
Recent trends indicate a growing emphasis on finding “the perfect partner,” while experts like Merchant advise more practical methods to optimize your mental approach to seeking love.
“I only engage with the app when I’m feeling positive. If I’m stressed, fatigued, or hungover, I wouldn’t recommend it,” she advises. Many struggle to maintain a positive outlook while dating, yet that positivity is often key to success in navigating dating apps.
For Nick, 69, from Chichester, the pandemic prompted him to take a more proactive stance on dating. Within a week of joining the now-defunct Guardian Soulmate, he matched with his partner. They’ve been together for over five years and started cohabitating in February 2022.
“I was initially apprehensive but realized I needed to take the plunge,” he shares. “Reflect on whether you genuinely want to pursue this or just seek excuses for why it isn’t working. Show what makes you a great partner. Be ready to step outside your comfort zone.”
Even if not all interactions lead to something meaningful, “you are learning how dynamics function,” he notes. He suggests Romeo, also known as Planetromeo, as a great alternative for LGBTQ+ individuals seeking relationships rather than casual encounters.
Liz observes that, for some people, the app can become problematic instead of beneficial. “I adore my friends, but I’ve seen them become obsessed with swipes and likes in a way that worries me. Their emotions seem to lose value when reduced to mere images on a screen. If you’re truly eager to connect with someone, remember that every profile represents a real person.”
A thoughtful gift can spark a delightful conversation… Photo: Pose by a model. Janina Steinmetz/Getty Images
Although Tinder has garnered some particularly negative reviews over the years, Dan, 45, from the Netherlands, connected with his current wife just two weeks after downloading the app. They’ve enjoyed a decade together and share a son. For him, standing out was essential.
“People often describe me as boring at first glance,” he admits. “I’m not the kind to dazzle anyone with my looks or lavish lifestyle. The great thing about dating apps was that I was able to kick-start a conversation immediately. When I messaged someone, I’d always pose questions or joke about something in their profile to show I was genuinely interested. It didn’t always work, but sometimes it did!”
When he finally met his wife, Dan made sure to leave a lasting impression by bringing along a small, thoughtful gift as an icebreaker. “On our first date, I presented her with a gift-wrapped chocolate bar that was her least favorite flavor, but included another chocolate bar of her favorite in jest,” he recalls. “It was a fun way to demonstrate that I was attentive.”
“Don’t fear rejection,” he suggests. “I once got rejected for not dressing ‘hip enough.’ That was a good decision on her part—if such things matter to you, I’m not your person. I also got turned down for ordering a non-alcoholic beverage on another first date. Fast forward ten years, I ended up with someone who shares my humor.”
Fear of rejection undoubtedly influences why numerous singles approach dating apps with caution. “Many are indeed fearful of rejection,” states Merchant. “They often take it personally, which leads to giving up. When this happens, it saddens me, as if they maintain a positive outlook, they’ll eventually find someone, and I genuinely believe that.”
As frequent as it is, the key to thriving on dating apps might very well be a stroke of luck. “I firmly believe luck plays a substantial role,” Merchant remarks. “Surround yourself with individuals who maintain a positive view of dating. It’s natural to feel fatigued, but avoid isolating those feelings. If you’re burnt out, just step back from the app and return when your energy picks up.”
Even those who seem to have found success instantly acknowledge that taking breaks is essential. “You end up seeing the same faces,” Joseph points out. “If you pause for a bit and return months later, you’ll discover new profiles and opportunities that better align with what you truly desire.
Utilizing data gathered by NSF’s Gemini South Telescope and NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have identified methane signatures (CH4), water (H2O), and silane (SiH4) in the cold brown dwarf gas WISEA J153429.75-104303.3 (shortened to W1534). Silanes are predicted to act as significant reservoirs of silicon, the element responsible for the large clouds of gas that surround giant worlds, but their presence had remained undetected until now, masked by the development of deep silicate clouds in the observable atmosphere.
This artist’s illustration depicts a brown dwarf with an atmosphere filled with gas and dust clouds. Image credits: Noirlab/NSF/Aura/R. Proctor.
The W1534, referred to as the accident, is situated approximately 50 light years from Earth in the Libra constellation.
This brown dwarf was likely formed between 100 and 120 billion years ago and ranks among the oldest brown dwarfs discovered to date.
First identified in 2020 by citizen scientists participating in the Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 Citizen Science Project, its unusual light profile captivated astronomers.
Using two of the world’s most advanced terrestrial and space-based telescopes, astronomers examined its atmosphere to analyze its properties and composition.
The survey commenced with NSF’s Noirlab Astronomer Sandy Leggett capturing near-infrared images of W1534 with a Gemini South telescope in Chile, part of the International Gemini Observatory.
This initial work laid the groundwork for further explorations using Webb, guided by Noirlab Astronomer Aaron Meisner.
“W1534 is quite faint, and Gemini South is the only ground-based telescope capable of detecting it,” Dr. Meisner stated.
“The Gemini discovery paved the way for Webb’s observations by revealing the deeper atmospheric layers of this mysterious object and enabling us to determine the exposure time necessary to gather useful near-infrared data on its composition.”
Within W1534’s atmosphere, the team uncovered the crucial signature of silane, a compound formed from silicon and four hydrogen atoms.
Planetary scientists have long theorized the existence of this molecule within gas giants, attributing potential significance to its role in cloud formation within the atmosphere.
Despite extensive searches, its atmospheric presence has remained elusive in our solar system’s gas giants, Jupiter and Saturn, although thousands of studies on brown dwarfs and gas giants orbiting other stars have occurred.
This marks the first discovery of silanes in any brown dwarf, exoplanet, or solar system object.
The absence of this molecule in all but one singular brown dwarf suggests intriguing insights into the chemistry occurring in such an ancient environment.
“Often, it is these extreme objects that help us understand the average,” remarked Dr. Jackie Faherty, a researcher at the American Museum of Natural History.
The presence of silanes in W1534’s atmosphere implies that in very ancient objects, silicon is capable of bonding with hydrogen to form lighter molecules that can ascend to the upper layers of a gas giant’s atmosphere.
In contrast, more recently formed objects, such as Jupiter and Saturn, result in silicon bonding with readily available oxygen, producing heavier molecules that settle deeper into the atmospheric layers.
The evidence gleaned from W1534’s atmosphere further validates astronomers’ comprehension of gas giant cloud formation and sheds light on how primitive conditions influence atmospheric composition.
Moreover, it indicates that worlds formed billions of years ago display characteristics distinctly different from those formed during the early solar system.
“The formation and detection of silanes highlight an essential relationship among composition, cloud formation, and atmospheric mingling in cold brown dwarfs and planetary atmospheres,” the authors concluded.
Paleontologists from Argentine Patagonia have unearthed parts of the posterior skull from the previously unknown sauropod dinosaur, Levvatissaurus.
Reconstruction of the life of Astigmasaura genuflexa. Image credit: Mattia Yuri Messina.
The newly identified dinosaurs thrived in what is modern-day Argentina during the late Cretaceous period, around 95 million years ago.
This species has been scientifically named Astigmasaura ungflexa and measured approximately 18 meters (59 feet) in length, weighing over 10 tons.
These ancient giants belong to the Rebbachisauridae, a large family of sauropod dinosaurs within the superfamily Diplodocoidea.
“Rebbachisaurids are medium to large, non-selective, ground-level browsers, characterized by highly specialized skulls, elongated axial elements, and gracile appendicular skeletons.”
“Fossils from Levubatisaurus, spanning the early to late Cretaceous, are particularly diverse within the ancient supercontinent Gondwana, with numerous specimens discovered in North Africa and South America.”
“Notably, Patagonia has produced more than half of all known rebbachisaurids, including the earliest forms and the most recent Rebbachisaurus.”
Fieldwork in the El Orejano region of the Huncul Formation in Patagonia, Argentina. Image credit: Flavio Bellardini.
Fossilized remains of Astigmasaura ungflexa were found in the El Orejano area of the Huncul Formation within the Neuquén Basin in Patagonia, Argentina.
The material type of Astigmasaura ungflexa was described by paleontologists.
This new species represents one of the last Levubatisaurus dinosaurs before it went extinct around 90 million years ago.
“Astigmasaura ungflexa shares a variety of traits with other rebbachisaurids, including anterior caudal vertebrae with tall neural spines and tetrameric nerve layers, an asymmetrical neural arch, a mesolaterally compressed proximal tibia, and medially tilted distal condyles and femurs,” the researchers noted.
“Furthermore, Astigmasaura ungflexa displays a unique combination of diagnostic features that set it apart from all other sauropods.”
“This new finding not only enhances our understanding of the previously unexplored caudal and pelvic girdle anatomy of Rebbachisauridae but also indicates greater taxonomic diversity within the family during the late stages of evolutionary history than previously recognized.”
The team’s paper was published online in the journal Cretaceous Research.
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Flavio Berardini et al. 2025. Alongside the Titans: a new Levuvacisaur dinosaur from the Huncul Formation (Upper Cenomanian) of Patagonia, Argentina. Cretaceous Research 176:106188; doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106188
zOhran Mamdani received an unofficial boost last month as a candidate for mayor of New York. It was revealed that he met his wife, Rama Duwazi, through a dating app. “There’s still hope for these dating apps,” he shared on the Bluwork Podcast just a week before his surprising win in the Democratic primary. This news quickly circulated on social media, strengthening his position among fellow millennials in the 33-year-old democratic socialist demographic. Cosmopolitan later headlined: “Zohran Mamdani has made history as the first NYC mayor who met his wife on Hinge.”
Hinge representatives declined to comment, but many hopeful New Yorkers have taken action amidst dating fatigue, with some re-downloading the app to celebrate Mamdani’s success. “Now I’m treating it like a full-time job,” remarked one user in a TikTok post. “If he found love on that app, I might be able to as well,” they noted in the caption.
However, users may face ideological challenges while creating their profiles. In addition to basic questions like “Do you smoke, drink, or use drugs? Did you attend college?” Hinge asks singles to specify their political affiliation: liberal, conservative, moderate, political, or the more esoteric “other.”
Some on the left argue that the term “liberal” does not accurately capture socialist ideologies, associating it with figures like Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and former governor Andrew Cuomo, a competitor to Mamdani. Many liberals are viewed as too radical compared to the progressive proposals from their peers (e.g., freezing rent, taxing the super-rich, promoting public transport). Socialists want to distance themselves from mainstream liberalism while also addressing criticisms from hedge fund manager Daniel Roeb, who cautioned his fellow billionaires.
Abby Beauregard, chair of the Finance Committee for Democratic Socialists in New York, commented, “Leftists now have a real appetite.” She noted that Mamdani’s victory has invigorated the dating scene in the city. “Finding explicit leftist dating spaces is quite challenging. Most apps cater to liberals, with no options for more left-leaning views (e.g., far-right or communist).”
Therefore, leftist singles seek more transparent ways to express their politics in like-minded romantic matches, be it on Hinge or other platforms.
“The app now allows people to express pride in their communist and leftist beliefs,” says Caroline, 38, a Queens resident. Photo: Oatawa/Getty Images/Istockphoto
I transformed my dating profile into a minimal manifesto, articulating my entire belief system in response to the app’s prompts. It’s common for users to employ watermelon emojis as symbols of solidarity with the Palestinian cause. Some warn TERFs (an exclusive radical feminist acronym), police officers, or Donald Trump supporters to swipe left.
“Seeing those symbols matters to me,” stated Caroline, a 38-year-old florist from Queens. (She remains anonymous for privacy reasons.) “There’s a certain charm in apps where individuals openly identify as communists and leftists.”
However, she is cautious about those who excessively display their leftist views. “Too much leftism can come off as trying too hard,” she observed. “It feels performative if you’re centrist just looking to attract alt-girls or those from Bushwick.”
Unlike Hinge, Tinder and OK Cupid enable users to personalize their bios and decide whether to disclose their political affiliations. Ahead of the 2024 election, Tinder has even introduced profile “stickers” that allow users to express strong political beliefs, such as support for “reproductive rights.”
Caroline, who uses Feeld, framed her profile cautiously as “left-leaning,” saying that’s sufficient for her. “I say, ‘I love the vaccine!’ and follow it up with ‘Free Palestine!’ or ‘Screw Trump!’ It’s all implied.”
Dennis Murbena identifies as “very left-leaning” but previously categorized himself as a liberal, keeping his political affiliation concealed on Hinge.
“In light of Trump’s resurgence over the past two years, addressing political views is crucial,” said Murbena, 30, who is in customer service for an automotive company. “Many gay individuals in Brooklyn are left-leaning, but I’ve also dated someone who was a member of a young Republican club in college.” That experience shifted his assumption that all shared political views.
According to NBC News, the partisan divide among Gen Z women who identify as Democrats is at its widest compared to any previous generation. Increasingly, the political beliefs of men influence their desirability as partners. While earlier generations may have shrugged off political differences in romantic pairings, a striking 60% of 18-24-year-olds consider it essential to date or marry someone who shares their political beliefs.
“Politics has become a new religion,” remarked Dr. Jess Calbino, a former sociologist at Bumble and Tinder who researches dating apps. “It’s a lens through which people understand the world and their values.”
Lily, a recently unemployed 23-year-old socialist, is hesitant about matching with someone who identifies on Hinge as “not political.” “That raises immediate concerns for me,” they stated. “As someone who is deeply affected by the ongoing issues in this country, I need assurance that a partner cares about people and their communities.”
New York has seen a surge in voters aged 25 to 34. The recent elections highlight the vibrancy of leftist politics among this demographic, outpacing other age groups in the Democratic primary. Lately, Lily has observed young people state on Hinge that they only want to date those who supported Mamdani or who are not fans of Cuomo. They’ve seen many respond to Hinge prompts about “the last time you cried?” with “when Zohran won.” (They consider those tears happy.)
However, New York isn’t a utopia for young socialists. Conservative individuals in the city are also actively seeking partners. Some have left mainstream dating apps, creating alternatives of their own. “Our dating apps are awakened,” states the description for Date Right Stuff, a platform supported by Peter Thiel. “Connect with people who aren’t upset about everything.”
In March, Date Right Stuff hosted the “Make America Hot Again” singles event at Trump Tower in New York, catering to Republicans who prefer urban life to what the app’s former chief marketing officer, Raquel Debono, referred to as “urban conservatives,” or those seeking small-town vibes.
They aren’t the only ones departing the mainstream dating scene. The impact of leftist movements on dating in New York is evident beyond just Hinge.
In early July, young individuals gathered for a “Sexy Socialist Singles” event hosted by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) in New York. Attendees seeking casual connections—or as the host described, “if you want to be as fast and free as a Zohran bus”—were directed to one area of the bar, while those looking for “slow, rich-taxing relationships” were guided to another. At one point, the organizers even had the polyamorous attendees interact in a designated space upstairs.
Sven, a 25-year-old economics master’s student in Bushwick, noted that many young people view DSA as as much a social club as a platform for leftist candidates. “I saw a Reddit post stating that all of Zohran’s supporters are attractive. There are soccer leagues and book clubs; it’s an excellent opportunity to make friends.”
Meanwhile, Lauren, a video editor living in Astoria (whom Mamdani represents in the Queens district as a member of the New York assembly), was at the Monogamy Building hopeful for a flirtatious connection. “Wearing a Zohran T-shirt definitely gives off a vibe,” she said. “People do a double take, calling from across the street, expressing enthusiasm for him. It’s such a great conversation starter!”
The NYC DSA continues its “Sexy Socialist Mixer” series across neighborhoods like the Upper West Side, Bushwick, and Williamsburg, catering to both young singles and those over 30—all while singles navigate their political identities on dating apps.
Protein fragments survived in the extreme environment of Rift Valley, Kenya
Ellen Miller
In Kenya, fossilized teeth from an 18 million-year-old mammal yielded the oldest protein fragment ever discovered, extending the age record for ancient proteins by fivefold.
Daniel Green at Harvard, alongside Kenyan scientists, unearthed diverse fossil specimens, including teeth, in Kenya’s Rift Valley. Volcanic activity facilitated the preservation of these samples by encasing them in ash layers, enabling the age dating of the teeth to 18 million years. Nonetheless, it remained uncertain whether the protein in the tooth enamel endured.
The circumstances were not promising—Rift Valley is “one of the hottest places on Earth for the past 5 million years,” Green observes. This extreme environment presents “significant challenges.” Despite this, earlier research has detected tooth enamel proteins, albeit not from such ancient samples. To assess the longevity of protein traces, Green employed a small drill to extract powdered enamel from the teeth.
These samples were sent to Timothy Creland at the Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute for analysis. He utilized mass spectrometry to categorize each molecular type in the sample by differentiating them by mass.
To his surprise, Creland uncovered sufficient protein fragments to yield significant classification insights. This identified the teeth as belonging to the ancient ancestors of elephants and rhinos, among other evidence. Creland expresses enthusiasm for demonstrating that “even these ancient species can be integrated into the Tree of Life alongside their modern relatives.”
While only a small amount of protein was recovered, the discovery remains monumental, asserts Frido Welker from the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. He emphasizes that growing protein and gaining insights into this ancient fossil is a “tremendous breakthrough.”
Unlike other tissues such as bone, sampling teeth is crucial for uncovering fragments of ancient and valuable proteins like these. “The sequence of enamel proteins varies slightly,” notes Creland.
The dental structure may have played a role in preserving proteins for such an extended period. As teeth are “primarily mineral,” these minerals assist in protecting enamel proteins through what Cleland describes as “self-chemical processes.” Furthermore, the enamel comprises only a small fraction of protein, aiding in its preservation, roughly 1%. “Whatever protein is present, it’s going to persist much longer,” Green asserts.
The endurance of protein fragments in Rift Valley suggests that fossils from other locales may also contain proteins. “We can genuinely begin considering other challenging regions of the planet, where we might not expect significant preservation,” Cleland comments. “Microenvironmental discrepancies may promote protein conservation.”
Beyond studying proteins from these specific periods, researchers aim to explore samples from various epochs. “We’re looking to delve deeper into history,” Cleland mentions. Green adds that analyzing younger fossils could offer a “baseline of expectation” for the number of conserved protein fragments compared to those from ancient specimens.
“We’re only beginning to scratch the surface,” Cleland concludes.
While at work, Leila Rivera received a text from her boyfriend: someone on Reddit was searching for her.
In the comments of a post on the r/warpedtour subreddit, attendees of the punk rock and emo music festival were looking for missed connections. Rivera recognized one message that mentioned “Leila/Leila (the short girl in a red top)” as likely being from a guy she had met during the band Sweet Pill’s performance at the Warped Tour in Washington, DC, back in June.
“You tapped my shoulder and asked me to help you surf the crowd,” he wrote. “I attempted to lift you up, but no one nearby offered to help, so I awkwardly had to back off. Honestly, I couldn’t assist after that.”
The poster included his Instagram handle, prompting 29-year-old Rivera, who works in real estate, to reach out. She expressed gratitude for his kind message, despite having a boyfriend. The two quickly became friends over DMs and plan to reunite at next year’s Warped Tour in DC.
“I want to meet up and see if he can launch me into the air again,” Rivera said. “I have a boyfriend, but I’m glad to have a friend in him.”
Navigating the Gen Z-Millennial divide, Rivera didn’t grow up with Craigslist’s missed connections, where seekers reached out to strangers in a quest for contact. For many without the courage, these posts provided voyeuristic entertainment.
Such posts became popular, reminding readers of the random wonder of city life. In 2010, Craigslist estimated that around 8,000 new ads were posted on New York City’s Missed Connections page each week.
I once shared a missed connection on Craigslist live. (My recent post read: “We met at a Rockaway BBQ,” “We locked eyes for what felt like ages on the 86th.”) However, the rise of social media and dating apps has somewhat dulled its cultural relevance. A decade later, young people seem to be reviving these traditions on platforms like Reddit and TikTok.
On Reddit, subreddits like r/warpedtour host “megathreads” for missed connections. Commenters recount their encounters, leaving behind contact info in hopeful anticipation. Similar threads can be found in cities like Baltimore, Chicago, Cincinnati, and Minneapolis, as well as at festivals like Bonnaroo, Coachella, Electric Forest, and the Berghain club in Berlin (where mobile phones bring an extra dance floor vibe).
“I’m searching for a beautiful woman with striking eyes. [at] Popeyes,” wrote one Redditor from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Meanwhile, someone in Arlington, Virginia searched for the woman he encountered at a bar—while on a date with someone else. In St. Louis, a visitor in a chemotherapy ward observed strangers in the hallway crying together; he still kept her in his thoughts.
Young people claim this practice, in a romantic context, serves as a remedy for dating fatigue and embodies their ultimate urban fantasy. It’s an analog alternative to dating apps reminiscent of classic comedies where characters search hopelessly for love.
“You move to a big city and feel this hope for unexpected encounters and enchanting moments everywhere,” noted Maggie Hertz, DJ and host on New Jersey’s freeform radio station WFMU. Cat Bomb!, a show featuring missed connections from listeners, remains popular. “There’s something incredibly vulnerable about writing a missed connection.”
Hertz admitted that none of the missed connections on her show have led to real-life meetups, which doesn’t detract from the enjoyment.
“My favorite call came at 3 AM,” Hertz recalled. “The caller was excited and nervous—possibly still buzzing from a few drinks. She was at a diner in Brooklyn and mentioned a waiter who told her she resembled Jake Gyllenhaal.”
Recently, Karly Laliberte spotted an attractive guy while leaving Trader Joe’s in Boston’s Seaport area. “He was tall—rare in Boston,” shared Laliberte, 30, who works in sports marketing. “It’s a stereotype we call ‘Short King City.’ In a movie version of the story, I’d cast Jacob Elordi. They walked in the same direction for a few blocks, and I caught myself stealing glances and ‘feeling his gaze.’ I almost said hi but held back, not wanting to interrupt his conversation.”
Laliberte returned home to film a TikTok, urging viewers to help identify the man. “Within hours, it racked up 50,000 views,” she shared. “TikTok lets you tag your city, making local posts easily visible. It felt like the perfect platform to share missed connections.”
Though she never found the man, Laliberte received messages from people suggesting potential matches—some of whom turned out to be guys she had previously dated.
Laliberte has spent years using dating apps but found herself constantly encountering the same people. Frustrated with swiping, she yearns for charming, old-fashioned interactions. “I crave face-to-face connections,” she said. “I long for authentic, less forced relationships. Why not seek out someone who caught your eye outside Trader Joe’s?”
While young adults today may be realizing the value of missed connections, this practice predates even Craigslist. Francesca Beauman, a British historian and author of “Shapely Ankle Aperer’d,” traced its origins back to 1709.
The earliest ad, published in Tatler (now known as Tatler), mentioned “in the 20th incident, a gentleman wishing to thank the woman who helped him down from a boat at Whitehall, wanting to know where he might wait for her.” The woman was instructed to contact Mr. Samuel Reeves. Beauman discovered a marriage record under the same name a year later, though it remains unclear whether the connection led to a wedding.
While evidence suggesting these methods lead to true love may be scarce even 300 years later, people continue to pursue hope. Recently, actor Colman Domingo revealed he met his husband through a missed connections post in 2005 (they made strong eye contact at a Walgreens in Berkeley, California). Although Laliberte didn’t find her tall guy, she expressed her determination to post another missed connection as “100%.”
“We are all hopeless romantics, ever hopeful,” Beauman said. “Reading them is enjoyable. Placing and responding to them is equally entertaining.”
Archaeologists have discovered a collection of 35 wooden tools, including drilling sticks and pointed hand tools, at an early Paleolithic site in Gantanquin, southwestern China. These findings indicate that the humans who utilized these tools focused on creating implements for excavation and processing rather than for hunting purposes.
Wooden tools found on the Gangtankin property in China. Image credit: Liu et al. , doi: 10.1126/science.adr8540.
While early humans have crafted wood tools for more than a million years, such artifacts are exceedingly rare in archaeological records, particularly from the early to mid-Pleistocene epochs.
The majority of ancient wooden tools have been uncovered in Africa and Western Eurasia, with notable specimens like spears and throwing rods found in Germany and the UK, alongside structural elements from Zambia and wooden plaques and excavation rods from sites in Israel and Italy.
For years, the Bamboo hypothesis has suggested that early East Asian populations largely depended on bamboo for toolmaking, though there is limited archaeological evidence supporting organic material-based tools in this region.
In a recent study led by Dr. Jian-Hui Liu and colleagues from the Yunnan Cultural Relics and Archaeology Institute, a diverse array of artifacts from the Gantangqing site was analyzed.
Among these were 35 wooden artifacts displaying clear signs of intentional shaping and use, along with indications of wear, suggesting they were deliberately crafted by humans.
These tools, made from pine, included probable hook-like implements used for cutting plant roots, varying from large, double-handed excavation sticks to smaller portable tools.
“In comparison to other prominent prehistoric wooden tool sites in Europe, Gantankin is characterized by a variety of medium-sized hunting equipment as well as a broader scope of handheld tools primarily designed for excavating and processing plants,” the researchers noted.
“The sophistication of these wooden tools emphasizes the significance of organic artifacts in understanding early human behavior, especially in contexts where only stone tools might suggest a more ‘primitive’ technological landscape.”
A study detailing these findings was published today in the journal Science.
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Jian-Hui Liu et al. 2025. Wooden tools from Gantankin in southwestern China, dating back 300,000 years. Science 389 (6755): 78-83; doi: 10.1126/science.adr8540
Paleontologists have unearthed a new species of large passerine birds based on fossilized remains from the Bannockburn Formation near St. Bathans in Otago, New Zealand.
Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina Tibicen), adults and juveniles, in Tabeumi, Fiji. Image credits: Charles J. Sharp, https://www.sharpphotography.co.uk / CC by-sa 4.0.
The newly identified bird inhabited New Zealand during the early Miocene period around 19 million years ago.
It has been named St. Batan’s Caloun (MioStrepera Canora), closely related to the Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina Tibicen) found in New Zealand today, likely exhibiting an entirely black plumage.
“We’ve experienced a lot of excitement and hard work,” shared Dr. Paul Scofield, senior curator at the Canterbury Museum.
“We probably haven’t encountered a member of this large magpie family for just five million years.”
“New Zealand’s ecosystem has undergone significant transformations over millions of years, welcoming diverse species throughout various eras,” noted Dr. Trevor Worthy, a researcher at Flinders University.
“There’s a notion that we should strive to restore New Zealand to its pre-European ecosystem.”
“However, that ecosystem had been in a constant state of flux for millions of years.”
“By the time humans arrived, Aotearoa had already lost much of the floral diversity that once thrived.”
“There were limited tree seeds available, but the decline of the choloun and other pigeons indicates this loss.”
“Different plant and animal groups emerged between 2.6 million and 11,700 years ago.”
“Even more have come since humans began to inhabit the land.”
“New Zealand’s pre-European ecosystem isn’t inherently better or worse than any other period in the past.”
“The fossil record hints at the absence of a utopian state and encourages us to celebrate the diversity present today.”
The fossilized remains of MioStrepera Canora were found at the St Bathans fossil site, which was once located at the bottom of a vast prehistoric lake.
“The research revealed that the Miocene bird population in New Zealand bears surprising similarities to contemporary Australian birds,” Dr. Scofield mentioned.
“New Zealand was vastly different during the Miocene, between 200,000 to 5 million years ago.”
“If you walked through New Zealand’s forests during that time, you would have seen abundant eucalyptus, laurel, and casuarinas, much like the forests of Australia today.”
“The most significant factor shaping New Zealand’s current landscape was the extinction of many plants and animals that thrived in warmer climates, following a rapid cooling that began around 13 million years ago.”
“It was likely not the only bird call you would have heard in ancient New Zealand.”
The discovery of MioStrepera Canora is detailed in a paper published in the journal Palz.
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Worth it et al. A large-scale clastatin passerine (Aves, Artamidae, Cracticinae) from the early Miocene of New Zealand. Palz published on June 25th, 2025. doi:10.1007/s12542-025-00736-x
The discovery of Litoria Tylerantiqua indicates that Australian tree frogs (Perodrius) were already present in Australia when the continent was still attached to Antarctica and South America.
Artist Reconstruction of Litoria Tylerantiqua (right) alongside the previously described species Platyplectrum casca (left) from Margon in southeast Queensland. Image: Samantha Yabsley, https://www.instagram.com/shy_art.
Litoria Tylerantiqua lived in Australia during the early Eocene period, approximately 55 million years ago.
The fossilized frog bones were retrieved in the 1990s by paleontologists at the University of New South Wales while screenwashing clay samples from the Tingamara fossil frog site in Margon, Queensland.
“About 55 million years ago, Australia, Antarctica, and South America were connected as the last remnants of Gondwana,” stated Dr. Roy Furman and his colleagues at the University of New South Wales and the Australian National University.
“During this era, the global climate was warmer, facilitating forested corridors linking South America and Australia.”
“Previously, Australia’s oldest tree frogs were believed to have originated from the late Illuminocene (around 26 million years ago) and the early Miocene (approximately 23 million years ago).”
“Fossils from the late Illuminocene have been discovered in the Northern Territory’s kangaroo wells and the Etadunna formation in Lake Palancarina, South Australia. Furthermore, the Riversley World Heritage Area in Queensland unveiled an early Miocene tree frog.”
“This new species extends the fossil record of Perodrids by roughly 30 million years, bringing it closer to the timeframe when Australian tree frogs diverged from their South American counterparts,” they noted.
“Previous estimates based on molecular clock analyses suggest that Australian and South American frogs diverged approximately 33 million years ago.”
Litoria Tylerantiqua is the only other known frog from Margon, also identified as Platyplectrum casca (previously categorized as Lechriodus Casca), recognized as the oldest frog species in Australia.
Both have existing relatives in Australia and New Guinea, showcasing incredible resilience over time.
“Despite their fragile nature, these frogs have surprisingly thrived, surviving numerous major extinction events since their origin around 250 million years ago.”
“Current global extinction threats, fueled by human activities like rapid climate change and the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria, pose significant challenges for frogs. The fossil record reveals how certain frog groups have navigated past adversities, potentially by adapting to less-threatened habitats.”
“This insight might guide future conservation efforts, such as relocating endangered frogs to safer environments.”
“If fossil records show similarly structured frogs occupying very different habitats, today’s frogs could potentially benefit from reintroductions into comparable environments.”
The findings are detailed in a study published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.
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Roy M. Furman et al. New fossil discoveries for early Eocene perodrids from local faunas of Southeast Queensland, Margon, Tingamara, and frog molecular lineages. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology published online on May 14, 2025. doi:10.1080/02724634.2025.2477815
Researchers conducted an extensive study of bone artifacts from 26 Paleolithic caves and rock shelter locations in the Cantabria area of Spain and southwestern France.
173 work (a) and raw (b) taxonomic identification of bone objects: (1) blank, Tito Bastilo, sperm whale. (2) A launch point with a huge base, Islitz and a blue whale. (3) Lassempouy, Fin Whale; (4) Rascaldas, a sperm whale; (5) A launch point with a giant base, Hermitia and a gray whale. (6) Unclear object, St. Michelle, a sperm whale. (7-10) Santa Catalina, raw fragments of fin whale bones. Image credit: McGrath et al., doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-59486-8.
“The largest creatures on Earth, whales were a vital source of nourishment and materials like oil and bone,” stated Dr. Christa McGrath, the lead author and an archaeologist from the University of Barcelona, along with her co-researchers.
“Hence, they are thought to have been instrumental in the survival of various coastal human populations.”
“Nonetheless, tracing the origins of human and near-human interactions is challenging since coastal archaeological sites are particularly prone to the impacts of rising sea levels, complicating the preservation of evidence regarding early human-mammal relationships.”
The authors examined 83 bone tools from various cave and rock shelter locations around the Bay of Biscay in Spain, along with an additional 90 bones from the Santa Catalina Cave in Biscay province.
Utilizing mass spectrometry and radiocarbon dating methods, they identified the species and age of the artifacts.
The earliest two dates were from the Cantabrian sites of Las Caño and Ergeyo, which dated to 20,200-19,600 and 19,600-19,000 years ago, respectively.
“Our findings show that the bones came from at least five large whale species, with the oldest dating back around 19,000-20,000 years,” mentioned Senior author Dr. Jean Mark Petitillon, an archaeologist at Toulouse-Jean-Jalaise University and CNRS University.
“This provides some of the earliest known proof of humans utilizing whales as tools.”
“Zoomorphometry is an effective method for studying past marine mammal diversity, especially when key morphological features are absent in the bone remains and artifacts.
“We identified gray whales that not only existed in Biscay Bay but are now confined to the North Pacific and Arctic oceans.”
“Moreover, chemical analysis of the bones indicates that the feeding patterns of these ancient whales varied slightly from those of contemporary ones, highlighting potential shifts in behavior and marine environments.”
“This discovery not only enhances our understanding of the early human use of whale remains but also illuminates the role whales held in ancient ecosystems.”
The team’s study is set to be published in the journal Nature Communications.
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K. McGrath et al. 2025. Late Paleolithic whale bone tools in the Bay of Biscay reveal insights into human and whale ecology. Nature Communications 16, 4646; doi:10.1038/s41467-025-59486-8
It was Andrei Andrev, the head of Badoo and co-creator of Bumble. After Bumble was involved, you faced another workplace scandal. In 2019, Forbes published a survey accusing Badoo’s London headquarters of fostering a toxic, sexist work environment. He denied these allegations, but shortly after the article’s release, he sold his majority stake. It’s remarkable that you had to navigate a second high-profile case of suspected misconduct from a man in your professional life. How do you handle that now?
The reality is quite frightening. It’s the worst-case scenario. I felt deeply concerned for anyone who experienced it. I was unaware of any such allegations. Many assumed, “Whitney knows everything and is covering for him.” The truth is, I was busy managing Bumble as a standalone business in Austin. It’s not like I was present at [Badoo’s London]. I was courageously working in the office every day and interacting with those individuals. When Forbes called me, I was taken aback. It was vital for Andrei to be transparent about my personal interactions with him. Honestly, I never witnessed anything to that extent. However, I never doubted women’s accounts or anyone else’s experiences, and I communicated that. I believe these allegations surfaced years prior and were not current.
There have been numerous allegations from different periods. Correct. But I think most of this article addresses the earlier ones. I’m not trying to distance myself from anything; that’s not my intention. Reflecting on the early 2010s, we’ve all seen the images of WeWork and Uber. When you envision tech companies in 2012, do you picture a progressive office environment? I doubt it. What insights can you draw from that time? Perhaps I was merely in one specific situation, or it was a broader theme reflective of the prevalent tech culture back then.
That period was marked by significant technological optimism. Countless apps emerged, backed by incomprehensible funding, promising to tackle numerous global issues. Did you believe that back then? I certainly did. Having access to an app that allowed you to see people nearby and connect with them was revolutionary. Without such an interface, dating someone you’d never met before felt truly transformative. I could even summon an Uber black car. We were living in a remarkable era—if Gen Z is listening now, they might think, “What were these people doing? Were they living in the dark ages?” [Laughs]
Listen, I vividly recall the era before smartphones. You know where I’m leading with this. The leap in efficiency and convenience was astounding. It was hard to believe we were at the forefront of such a transformation. Achieving that level of critical mass twice is incredibly challenging; it’s often understated. Many people don’t grasp how difficult it is; they might think, “She’s just lucky, wearing yellow, and she’s blonde.”
In the subsequent Bumble phase, you experienced substantial growth during the pandemic as everyone turned to the app. It was a pivotal moment. Released in 2021, it echoed loudly, yet user growth began to taper off the following year. What do you believe contributed to that? In my opinion, the early years of running this company were defined by a quantitative approach. Phone manufacturers reached out to us early on, eager to feature our brand. They proposed pre-installing our app on every phone so that it showed up on users’ home screens, resulting in millions of downloads. I was grateful, but many questioned my approach, claiming it was the wrong way to grow. This isn’t a social network; it’s a two-sided market where one person needs to connect with someone similar. Flooding the system won’t help—just as you wouldn’t want to meet everyone on the streets of New York City, why would anyone want to do that in an app? It’s more than just a scrolling content platform. Growth skyrocketed during the pandemic and additional phases, which was welcomed as a transformational era.
A recent study conducted by the Florida Museum of Natural History reveals that this apex predator is a type of Cebucid crocodile with origins in South America.
The Cebushid crocodile ruled the South American landscape after the dinosaurs vanished, remaining dominant until roughly 11 million years ago. Image credit: Jorge Mackey.
The sebecids were the last survivors of notosuchia, a large and varied group of extinct crocodiles with fossil records that trace back to the era of dinosaurs.
Notosuchians exhibited a wide range of sizes, diets, and habitats, distinguishing themselves from their alligator relatives, as most inhabited terrestrial environments.
The Sevecid behaved like a carnivorous dinosaur, sprinting with four long, agile limbs and tearing flesh with its notorious teeth.
Some species were equipped with protective armor made of bone plates embedded in the skin, reaching lengths of up to 6 m (20 feet).
The catastrophic mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous period, which eradicated non-avian dinosaurs, also nearly led to the extinction of the notosuchians.
In South America, only the Sevecids survived post-dinosaurs, quickly ascending to the role of apex predators.
The open waters separating the Caribbean islands from the South American mainland posed significant challenges for the Sevensids when it came to swimming.
In a new research effort, paleontologist Jonathan Bloch and his colleagues from the Florida Museum of Natural History analyzed vertebrae from fossilized teeth and spinal vertebrae dating back six million years, collected from the Paleopoultry 1 site in Savanna Grande de Boya, Dominican Republic.
“Our first question upon discovering these teeth in the Dominican Republic and other Caribbean islands was: what could they be?” Dr. Bloch mentioned.
The team also examined 18 million-year-old teeth found in Cuba and 29 million-year-old specimens from Puerto Rico.
“The fossils suggested evidence supporting the Girllandia hypothesis,” they noted.
This theory posits that a temporary land bridge or chain of islands enabled the migration from South America to the Caribbean.
“If the serrated teeth found in other Caribbean islands also belong to the Sevecid, the history of these giant reptiles stretches beyond just the Dominican Republic.”
“They would have played a significant role in shaping the ecosystems of this region for millions of years. However, today, evidence of large terrestrial predators is scarce.”
“In their absence, smaller endemic predators like birds, snakes, and crocodiles have evolved to fill gaps in the food chain,” he added.
“We could not have predicted this just by studying modern ecosystems,” Dr. Bloch remarked.
“The presence of large predators greatly differs from our previous assumptions, and it’s thrilling to explore what further discoveries might await in the Caribbean fossil record.”
The team’s paper was published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
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Lázaro W. Viñola López et al. 2025. The South American Sevecid from the Miocene of Hispaniola documents the presence of apex predators in the ecosystems of the Early West Indies. Proc. R. Soc. B 292 (2045): 20242891; doi: 10.1098/rspb.2024.2891
Paleontologists have discovered 131 large theropods and sauropods in the formations of the central Jurassic Kirmalag at Prince Charles’s point, located on the northwest coast of the Troternas Peninsula in Sky.
A 167 million-year-old dinosaur trackway located at Prince Charles’s point on the Isle of Skye. Image credit: Blakesley et al. , doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0319862.
The rocks of Isle of Skye are rich in dinosaur footprints, providing insight into the distribution and behavior of dinosaurs at critical times of evolution.
The newly discovered footprint was left in the wavy sands of an ancient subtropical lagoon dating back to the mid-Jurassic period about 167 million years ago.
The footprint is 25-60 cm long and comes in two types. This is a round “Tyre-Size” track, made by three untidy trucks left by Bipedal: a carnivorous theropod, a tetrapod, and a long-necked sauropod.
Based on comparisons with previous fossil discoveries, the most likely truck maker is Megalosaurus Similar to early branching members of the Neosauropod group CethiosaurusBoth are known from British skeletal ruins.
According to paleontologists, many of these footprints occur together in successive steps.
The longest of these trackways is over 12m, among the longest known examples from the Isle of Skye.
The spacing and orientation of these trackways represent slow walking without consistent orientation or interaction with each other, and what is probably left by the dinosaurs is casually crushed at slightly different times.
The site at Prince Charles’s point supports previous evidence that the Jurassic Sauropod frequently visited Scottish lagoons.
However, this site contains a higher percentage of theropod tracks than similar locales, perhaps indicating differences in the environment between these ancient lagoons.
The site also does not have footprints from other dinosaurs such as Stegosaurus and Ornithopods, but it remains unclear whether these animals really do not exist in this environment or simply did not leave a mark on this site.
“Prince Charles’s footprint at points provides fascinating insight into the behavior and environmental distribution of meat-eating theropods and plant-eating long-necked sauropods during key periods of evolution.”
“In Sky, these dinosaurs obviously preferred shallow, submerged lagoon environments to muddy air exposed.”
“Interestingly, this site also has historical significance as a location for Skye, where Prince Bonnie landed and hidden while flying through Scotland following the Battle of Culloden.”
Discoveries are reported in a paper Published online in the journal PLOS 1.
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T. Blakely et al. 2025. A new central Jurassic Lagoon margin assembly of theropod and sauropod dinosaur trajectories from the Isle of Skye, Scotland. PLOS 1 20(4): E0319862; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0319862
Fossil feathers are usually preserved or embedded in mber as impressions of carbonaceous membranes and lake sediments and marine sediments, but are rarely mineralized. In a new study, paleontologists have examined the mineralised feathers of 30,000 years old Griffon vultures preserved in ash-rich volcanic deposits of the Koli-Albani Volcanic Complex in Rome, Italy. Bird feathers were conserved in three dimensions, conserving tissue ultrastructures such as melanosomes. These ultrastructures are mineralized with nanocrystalline zeolites, a preservation mode that has not been previously reported in fossil soft tissue.
Fossil feathers from the 30,000-year-old Griffon vulture preserved in volcanic rocks at the Koli-Albani Volcanic Complex in Rome, Italy. Image credit: Edoardo Terranova.
The fossil vulture was discovered in 1889 near Rome by a local landowner who recognized its incredible preservation.
The entire body was preserved as a three-dimensional impression, with fine details such as the lid of the eye and wing wings.
The new study, led by University College Cork paleontologist Valentina Rossi, shows that feather preservation extends to the pigmented structure of small microscopic feathers.
“Fossil feathers are usually preserved in ancient mudstones laid in lakes and lagoons,” Dr. Rossi said.
“Fossil vultures are preserved in ash deposits, which is very unusual.”
“When analyzing the feathers of fossil vultures, we found ourselves in unknown territory.”
“These feathers are different from what we normally see in other fossils.”
The authors discovered that feathers are preserved in mineral zeolites by analyzing small samples of fossil feathers using electron microscopy and chemical testing.
“Zeolites are silicon and aluminum rich minerals and are common in volcanic and hydrothermal geological environments,” Dr. Rossi said.
“Zeolites can be formed as primary minerals (using clean crystals) or secondary during the natural changes in volcanic glass and ash, giving rocks a mudlock-like side.”
“The changes in ashes due to the passage of water induced precipitation of zeolite nanocrystals, replicating feathers to the details of the smallest cells.”
“Fine preservation of feather structures indicates that vulture corpses were buried in cold thermal clastic matter.”
“We are used to think that volcanic deposits are associated with high temperature, fast-moving thermal breaking flows that destroy soft tissue,” says Professor Dawid Iurino of the University of Milan.
“However, these geological environments are complex and can include cold deposits that can store soft tissue at the cellular level.”
“The fossil record is constantly amazed us with new fossil species, strange new body shapes, in this case a new style of fossil preservation,” said Professor Maria McNamara, a professor of Cork at the University.
“We never found any delicate tissues, such as feathers, preserved in volcanic rocks.”
“Discoveries like these broaden the range of potential rock types that can be found in fossils.
Read more. The findings were published in the journal Geological.
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Valentina Rossi et al. Fossil feathers from the Coralbani Volcanic Complex (central Italy, late Pleistocene) preserved in zeolites. GeologicalPublished online on March 18th, 2025. doi: 10.1130/g52971.1
Fossil feathers are usually preserved or embedded in amber as impressions of carbonaceous membranes and lake sediments and marine sediments, but are rarely mineralized. In a new study, paleontologists have examined the mineralised feathers of 30,000 years old Griffon vultures preserved in ash-rich volcanic deposits of the Koli-Albani Volcanic Complex in Rome, Italy. Bird feathers were conserved in three dimensions, conserving tissue ultrastructures such as melanosomes. These ultrastructures are mineralized with nanocrystalline zeolites, a preservation mode that has not been previously reported in fossil soft tissue.
A 30,000-year-old fossil feather of a Griffon vulture preserved in volcanic rocks at the Koli-Albani Volcanic Complex in Rome, Italy. Image credit: Edoardo Terranova.
The fossil vulture was discovered in 1889 near Rome by a local landowner who recognized its incredible preservation.
The entire body was preserved as a three-dimensional impression, with fine details such as the lid of the eye and wing wings.
The new study, led by University College Cork paleontologist Valentina Rossi, shows that feather preservation extends to the pigmented structure of small microscopic feathers.
“Fossil feathers are usually preserved in ancient mudstones laid in lakes and lagoons,” Dr. Rossi said.
“Fossil vultures are preserved in ash deposits, which is very unusual.”
“When analyzing the feathers of fossil vultures, we found ourselves in unknown territory.”
“These feathers are different from what we normally see in other fossils.”
The authors discovered that feathers are preserved in mineral zeolites by analyzing small samples of fossil feathers using electron microscopy and chemical testing.
“Zeolites are silicon and aluminum rich minerals and are common in volcanic and hydrothermal geological environments,” Dr. Rossi said.
“Zeolites can be formed as primary minerals (using clean crystals) or secondary during the natural changes in volcanic glass and ash, giving rocks a mudlock-like side.”
“The changes in ashes due to the passage of water induced precipitation of zeolite nanocrystals, replicating feathers to the details of the smallest cells.”
“Fine preservation of feather structures indicates that vulture corpses were buried in cold thermal clastic matter.”
“We are used to think that volcanic deposits are associated with high temperature, fast-moving thermal breaking flows that destroy soft tissue,” says Professor Dawid Iurino of the University of Milan.
“However, these geological environments are complex and can include cold deposits that can store soft tissue at the cellular level.”
“The fossil record is constantly amazed us with new fossil species, strange new body shapes, in this case a new style of fossil preservation,” said Professor Maria McNamara, a professor of Cork at the University.
“We never found any delicate tissues, such as feathers, preserved in volcanic rocks.”
“Discoveries like these broaden the range of potential rock types that can be found in fossils.
a paper The findings were published in the journal Geological.
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Valentina Rossi et al. Fossil feathers from the Coralbani Volcanic Complex (central Italy, late Pleistocene) preserved in zeolites. GeologicalPublished online on March 18th, 2025. doi: 10.1130/g52971.1
Who were the first inhabitants of Western Europe, what their physical characteristics were, and where they lived are some of the pending questions in the study of Eurasian settlements during the early Pleistocene epoch. Information on ancient humanity available from Western Europe is limited and limited to the Iberian Peninsula. Now, paleontologists have discovered a fragment of the midface of humanity at the site of the Sima del Elephante in Sierra de Atapuerc, Spain. Fossils, which were 1.4 million to 1.1 million years ago, represent the earliest human faces of Western Europe ever identified.
Archaeological excavations at the Sima del Elephante in Sierra de Atapuerc, Spain. Image credits: Maria D. Guillen/Iphes-Cerca.
“It is suggested that Eurasia was first settled by Hymonin at least 1.8 million years ago,” he said, institut Catetut Catetut Catetut Catetut de Paleoecologia Humana IEvolucióSocial, Rovira I Virgili, and Museo nacional de Ciencias natures, and colleagues
“Evidence of early human settlements in Western Europe is limited to highly fragmented fossil samples from the Iberian Peninsula, with few clues as to the appearance and classification of these human beings.”
“The fossils from the Spanish site, about 850,000 years ago, are Homo Alivisora species of early people with thin midfaces that resemble modern humans. ”
“In 2007, a Hominin Joborne (ATE9-1) was found at the Simadel Elephante site in northern Spain, between 12 and 1.1 million years ago, but it was not a definitive allocation. Homo Alivisor. ”
In the new study, the authors examined the fossil ruins of Hominin Midface from the Sima Del Elefante site.
The fragment labeled ATE7-1 consists of a substantial portion of the maxilla and zygote bone from the left side of an adult.
Using both physical evidence and 3D imaging techniques, the researchers reconstructed the fossil fragments, estimated to be between 1.4 million and 1.1 million.
They also discovered additional archaeological sites: stone tools and ruins of slaughtered animals.
“These practices demonstrate that the first Europeans had a close understanding of available animal resources and knew how to systematically utilize them,” Dr. Huguett said.
According to scientists, the ATE7-1 fossil does not display the “modern” midface features found in Homo Alivisor Fossils, but there are some similarities Homo Erectus system.
They tentatively allocated fossils Homo aff. Erectusshows affinity for Homo Erectuswithholding further evidence.
This finding may suggest that at least two people live in Western Europe Homo Early Pleistocene species: Homo aff. Erectusand later Homo Alivisor.
“The evidence is why it was assigned to the ''because it is still insufficient for a definitive classification. Homo aff. Erectus“Dr. Maria Martinon Torres, a researcher at the Centro Nacional de Investigation, said he is a researcher at Evolcion Humana in London and University College London.
“This designation recognizes the affinity of ATE7-1 Homo Erectus While it leaves the possibility that it belongs to another species open. ”
“Our findings demonstrate at least two different human invasions of Western Europe during the Pleistocene era, providing fascinating insights into the evolution of the genus. Homo. ”
“While their size is small, pioneering analysis of facial fragments greatly enriched our understanding of the origins and dynamics of the earliest Europeans on the continent.”
“More research and fossil samples are needed to investigate the relationships between these populations and further improve their classification,” the researchers concluded.
Their paper It was published in the journal this month Nature.
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R. Huguett et al. The oldest human face in Western Europe. NaturePublished online on March 12, 2025. doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08681-0
Paleontologists have studied and described three surfaces, including previously unknown dinosaur tracks, from an area near Biloella in Queensland, Australia.
Surface containing dinosaur tracks from the sandstone Duncreek mine area in the Kalido Basin, Queensland, Australia. Image credits: Romilio et al. , doi: 10.1080/08912963.2025.2472153.
University of Queensland researcher Dr. Anthony Romilio and his colleagues discovered footprints of early Jurassic dinosaurs preserved in three separate rocks in the Kalido Basin.
“One of the surfaces contains a single track, the other has a single trackway consisting of two tracks, and the third has a large concentration of 66 footprints,” they said.
“This is the highest concentration known from the area, with a density of 71 tracks per metre.2and only to specimens of the same age from the Carnarvon Valley, the second highest in Australia. ”
Each footprint has three toes, indicating that it belongs to the dinosaur Ichnospecy anomoepus scambus.
“The Ichnospecies, also discovered at the early Jurassic track sites in Carnarvon Valley and Mount Morgan, shows the prevalence of Ornishikian dinosaurs throughout the region,” the researchers said.
Small filled circular traces, possibly invertebrate burrows Scoritusthe surface is rich and, if correct, indicates that the tracks were formed under sub-light blue to medium energy conditions.
ICHNOSPECIES' Ornithischian Track Maker anomoepus scambus. Image credit: University of Queensland.
“The footprint comes from 47 individual dinosaurs that have passed through patches of wet white clay, and they probably walked or crossed the waterways,” Dr. Romilio said.
“These dinosaurs were small, with legs ranging from 15-50 cm long, and when they left these marks they were moving below 6 km/h.”
“Evidence from skeletal fossils abroad says that dinosaurs with legs like these were herbivores that had long legs, thick bodies, short arms and small heads with beaks.”
Scientists say the newly discovered footprint is about 200 million years old (early Jurassic epoch).
“These footprints provide valuable insight into the abundance and behavior of dinosaurs in an age where body fossils are not present in Australia,” they said.
Their paper It was published in the journal on March 10th, 2025 Historical Biology.
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Anthony Romillio et al. Dinosaur footprints from sandstones in the Lower Jurassic (Hetangian-Cinemurian), the Kalido Basin, Queensland, Australia. Historical BiologyPublished online on March 10th, 2025. doi:10.1080/08912963.2025.2472153
Understanding food chains in ancient ecosystems is one of the goals of paleoecology. Direct evidence of these interactions is rare and includes fossils with stomach contents and bite/teeth marks. A rare occurrence of bite marks on the neck vertebrae of a giant azhdarchyd goat larval vertebral column specimen from the Greater Sublineage of Alberta, Canada. was recorded. Approximately 76 million years ago. Based on the size and shape of the tooth marks and comparisons with modern animals, the authors suggest that crocodiles bite pterosaurs, but it is unclear whether this is active predation or scavenging. I couldn’t do it. Signs of giant pterosaurs are rare, so this provides novel details about how they fit into this ancient ecosystem.
Fossilized neck bones of a young boy Cryodrakon Boreas It shows signs (right part of specimens 2 and 8) that do not indicate that it was bitten by a crocodile-like creature 76 million years ago. Image credit: Brown et al. , doi:10.1017/jpa.2024.12.
The 76-million-year-old neck vertebrae were excavated in July 2023 in the Dinosaur Park Formation in Alberta, Canada.
The preserved (i.e. incomplete) length of the specimen is 5.8 cm. The estimated total length of the vertebrae is 9.4 cm.
The specimen has a circular puncture mark 4 mm wide from a crocodile tooth.
“Peterosaurus bones are very delicate, so it's very unusual to find fossils that were clearly chewed by another animal,” said Dr Caleb Brown, a palaeontologist at the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology. states.
“This specimen is even rarer because it is a juvenile.”
The punctured vertebrae belong to a larva (estimated wingspan 2 m) Cryodrakon Boreasa species of giant azhdarchid pterosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous in what is now Canada.
Adults of this species will be as tall as a giraffe with a wingspan in an area of 10 m.
“With an estimated wingspan comparable to some of the largest azhdarchids, creedracon And other large azhdarchids were probably significant terrestrial foragers,” said the paleontologist.
“Bite marks, implanted teeth, and stomach contents indicate that the azhdarchid pterosaurs were fed by velociraptrines and crocodiles.”
Cryodrakon Boreas. Image credit: David Maas.
In this study, they used micro-CT scans and comparisons with other pterygoid bones to confirm that they were the result of an actual crocodile bite, rather than fossilization or damage during excavation. I did.
“It helps document species interactions from this time,” said Dr. Brian Pickles, a paleontologist at Reading College.
“While we can't say whether the palace was alive or dead when it was bitten, the specimen is a juvenile that crocodiles sometimes preyed on in prehistoric Alberta more than 700 million years ago, or removed.” It shows that it shows a pterosaur.”
study Published online today Journal of Paleontology.
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Caleb M. Brown et al. Larval vertebral vertebrae with putative crocodile bites from a Campanian in Alberta, Canada. Journal of Paleontologypublished online on January 23, 2025. doi:10.1017/jpa.2024.12
An archaeologist from Oxford Cotswold Archeology (OCA) has made an exciting discovery of 321 11th-century AD silver coins (319 full pennies and 2 cut halfpence) in mint condition near the site of a future nuclear power station on the Suffolk coast. This finding sheds light on the social and political unrest of the 11th century and suggests that the change of government following the coronation of Edward the Confessor in 1042 caused significant turmoil among the population. This collection may have belonged to a local influential figure who felt threatened by the political changes and chose to bury his wealth as a precaution.
A treasure trove of 1,000-year-old silver coins. Image credit: Oxford Cotswold Archaeology.
The newly discovered cache of coins was carefully wrapped in cloth and lead.
The coins in the hoard were issued during the reigns of Harold I “Rabbit’s Foot” (1036-1040), Harthacnut (1040-2), and Edward the Confessor (1042-1066).
Most of the coins date back to the reign of Harold I, with Harthacnut issuing significantly fewer, and only 24 issued by Edward the Confessor.
While the majority of coins were minted in London, some were also minted in Thetford, Norwich, Ipswich, Lincoln, and Stamford.
A few coins were issued by smaller mints such as Langport and Uxbridge in southwest England, making them extremely rare.
“This hoard of coins offers a valuable glimpse into the historical context of that era, indicating that Edward the Confessor’s ascension to the throne was a time of uncertainty and societal unrest. This further supports the idea that it was a period marked by apprehensions,” said Alexander, a coin expert from OCA.
“The analysis of this coin hoard was a collaborative effort involving experts in numismatics, finds, conservation, and project partners.”
“It is a privilege to contribute to bringing this story to life.”
Despite representing considerable wealth for the time, these coins likely belonged to individuals of moderate status rather than high-ranking individuals.
They were probably a savings pot of a local influencer and were roughly equivalent in value to a small herd of cattle at that time.
“The hoard was affectionately named Masu for obvious reasons, so discovering it was truly an honor,” said OCA archaeologist Andrew Pegg.
“When I unearthed it, I saw the edge of a coin peeking out, and I was amazed!”
“It’s an impeccable archaeological time capsule,” he added.
“The insights we’re gaining from it are remarkable, and I am proud to contribute to the history of my corner of Suffolk.”
The mid-11th century in England was a period of uncertainty and shifting loyalties.
Edward the Confessor’s coronation in 1042 followed over 25 years of rule by Danish kings Canute, Harold, and Harthacnut. This event reinstated the House of Wessex on the English throne.
The change in leadership likely sparked uncertainty and apprehension among the populace.
Specifically, some affluent individuals connected to the previous regime were either exiled or had their assets seized after Edward’s coronation.
The hoard’s owner may have buried his wealth in fear of political changes, hoping to retrieve it later as a safety net.
“We may never fully understand why this treasure was left undiscovered,” concluded the archaeologists.
“The discovery of an 11th-century coin hoard is truly extraordinary,” said Damien Leydon, Site Delivery Director at Sizewell C.
Workers excavating clay at a limestone quarry in southern England stumbled upon a unique bump, leading to the discovery of a “dinosaur highway” and approximately 200 tracks dating back 166 million years, as revealed by researchers on Thursday.
Researchers from the University of Oxford and the University of Birmingham unveiled this groundbreaking find after a team of over 100 individuals excavated the Dewars Farm quarry in Oxfordshire in June. This discovery is said to revolutionize previous paleontological research in the area and provide deeper insights into the Middle Jurassic era.
Kirsty Edgar, a professor of micropalaeontology at the University of Birmingham, expressed, “These footprints offer a unique glimpse into the lives of dinosaurs, providing details about their movements, interactions, and the tropical habitats they inhabited.”
Among the series of tracks forming the “dinosaur highway,” four tracks trace the path of sauropods, giant, long-necked herbivorous dinosaurs that reached lengths of nearly 60 feet. The fifth set belonged to Megalosaurus, a fierce 30-foot-long predator with distinctive three-clawed markings, which was the first dinosaur to be scientifically named over two centuries ago.
Workers survey five vast tracks that formed part of the “Dinosaur Highway.” University of Birmingham (via AP)
Crossing sections where the tracks intersect raised queries about potential encounters between carnivores and herbivores.
Emma Nichols, a vertebrate paleontologist at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, acknowledged, “Scientists have long studied megalosaurs, but this discovery evidences the existence of further insights into these creatures that are yet to be uncovered.”
Nearly three decades ago, 40 pairs of footprints discovered in a local limestone quarry were deemed among the most significant dinosaur footprints globally. However, as the region is now largely inaccessible, evidence is limited due to the absence of digital cameras and drones during that period.
During the recent excavation, the team captured over 20,000 digital images and utilized a drone to create 3D models of the prints. This extensive documentation could prove valuable for future studies, revealing aspects like the size of the dinosaurs, their gait, and speed.
Duncan Murdoch, a geoscientist at the Oxford Museum, noted, “The preservation of these tracks is so detailed that the deformation of the mud by the dinosaurs’ feet can be observed. Together with other fossils present, such as burrows, shells, and plants, these tracks can reconstruct the muddy lagoon environments the dinosaurs traversed.”
These findings will be showcased in a new exhibit at the museum and will be featured on the BBC’s Digging for Britain next week.
Paleontologists discovered hundreds of different dinosaur footprints, including one left by a ferocious 9-meter (29.5-foot) predator megalosaurus Dewar’s Farm Quarry in Oxfordshire, England, by a herbivorous dinosaur up to twice its size.
Footprints of carnivorous and herbivorous dinosaurs at Dewar’s Farm Quarry in Oxfordshire, England. Image credit: University of Birmingham.
Professor Kirsty Edgar from the University of Birmingham said: “These footprints provide a special window into the lives of dinosaurs, revealing details about their movements, interactions and the tropical environments they lived in. ” he said.
Professor Edgar and colleagues have unearthed five vast dinosaur footprints dating back to the mid-Jurassic period, some 166 million years ago.
The longest continuous track was over 150 m (492 ft) long.
Four of the orbits were created by giant, long-necked herbivorous dinosaurs called sauropods. cetiosaurusa cousin of the famous brassica, which can grow up to 18 meters (59 ft) in length. diplodocus.
The fifth orbit was created by a carnivorous theropod dinosaur megalosaurusit was characterized by large three-toed feet with claws.
Parts of the site show intersecting carnivore and herbivore tracks, raising questions about whether and how the two were interacting.
“Scientists know about it and have studied it. megalosaurus Dr Emma Nicholls, a vertebrate paleontologist at Oxford University’s Natural History Museum, said: “They lived longer than any other dinosaur on Earth, but recent discoveries show that new evidence of these animals still exists and discoveries It proves that we are waiting for the future.”
Paleontologists worked together to discover around 200 footprints and used aerial drone photography to build a detailed 3D model of the site.
Professor Richard Butler, from the University of Birmingham, said: “There is much more we can learn from this site. It is an important part of our global heritage.”
“Our 3D model will allow researchers to continue their studies and make this fascinating part of our past accessible for generations to come.”
During the excavation, researchers took more than 20,000 images of the footprints.
These provide a wealth of material for further research and education, providing valuable information about how these dinosaurs walked, their speed, size, whether they interacted, and how they interacted. May provide insight.
Dr Duncan Murdoch, a researcher at Oxford University’s Natural History Museum, said: “The preservation is very detailed and you can see how the mud deformed as the dinosaur’s feet moved in and out.”
“Together with other fossils such as burrows, shells and plants, they can bring to life the muddy lagoon environment that the dinosaurs walked through.”
Feeling exhausted from writing dating profiles or swiping endlessly on dating apps? Wondering if dating apps are even worth it? Let a digital buddy handle the work for you.
As user fatigue becomes apparent with a noticeable decline in user numbers, the world’s largest online dating company is fighting back with artificial intelligence that promises to “revolutionize” online dating. Introducing an intelligent assistant.
Match Group, the tech company holding the biggest dating platform portfolio globally, recently announced a heightened investment in AI for new products launching in March 2025.
The upcoming AI assistant will take on essential dating tasks like selecting photos to maximize responses, suggesting prompts and profile information, and assisting users in finding their ideal match.
Through audio interviews, the AI will understand users’ dating objectives and recommend messages to send to matches based on shared interests.
Additionally, the AI will offer coaching for struggling users and provide tips on how to enhance profile visibility for those facing challenges in getting attention from matches.
Match Group CEO Bernard Kim expressed to investors that the company’s focus on AI signifies the start of a new phase known as the “AI transformation.”
Last month’s Ofcom report suggested a decrease in subscribers for Tinder and Hinge, the primary apps under Match Group, indicating a drop in app usage compared to the previous year.
Gary Swidler, Match Group’s president and CFO, emphasized the ongoing investment in AI technology to streamline the dating experience and highlighted the forthcoming benefits for investors and users.
However, critics like Anastasia Babas raise concerns about the potential negative impact of increased reliance on AI in dating, highlighting issues around personal agency, data privacy, and bias elimination.
Tinder CEO Faye Iosotaluno acknowledged the cautious approach towards AI data processing while committed to integrating it into the mainstream to transform user interactions thoughtfully.
Palaeospondylus ganniwas a small, eel-like creature that lived during the mid-Devonian period, about 390 million years ago, and is among thousands of similarly preserved fossils from the Achanaras Quarry in Caithness, Scotland. is represented by. Radically different interpretations of its structure had assigned this species to almost all major jawless and jawed vertebrate groups. Paleontologists are currently identifying new and old species. spondylosis From the early Devonian period of Australia.
First described in 1890, spondylosis It is a mysterious fish-like animal with a series of strange morphological features in the fossil record, including a lack of teeth and osteodermal bones.
Until now it was only known as Palaeospondylus ganni From the Middle Devonian Orcadian Basin in Scotland.
Initially interpreted as jawless vertebrates, they were soon classified into their own order and family.
Whereas the Scottish specimen was extremely compressed with all skeletal elements welded together, the new discovery spondylosisis located in a 400-million-year-old limestone in the Georgina Basin of western Queensland, central Australia, and is in a very different state of preservation as a 3D unfractured element.
“This is an amazing addition to Queensland's fossil record and is at the other end of the size scale of prehistoric giants like dinosaurs.” loetosaurus and Australotitan couperensis'' said Carol Barrow, a paleontologist at the Queensland Museum.
“What? Palaeospondylus australis Even more interesting is its relationship with similar species in northern Scotland. Palaeospondylus ganni”
The new fossil's honeycomb-like structure and complex internal features suggest the fish's early evolutionary importance.
The exact relationship is Palaeospondylus australis Although much remains unclear, as its features indicate that it retains many larval features, it is likely to be a distant relative of sharks.
This groundbreaking discovery not only enriches our understanding of ancient Australian ecosystems, but also highlights the global connectivity of early vertebrates across continents.
research Palaeospondylus australis It promises to uncover more mysteries about the evolution of jawed vertebrates.
“Discovery of a mysterious animal” spondylosis The early Devonian discovery in Australia indicates that this form is likely to have been distributed globally, given that Scotland and eastern Australia were then and now on opposite sides of the globe. “, the paleontologists said.
“New evidence regarding neurocranial features… spondylosis Adds important but contradictory information about that affinity. ”
“Until new and better evidence becomes available, spondylosis It is considered a pedunculate gnathostome, possibly a sister group to the cartilaginous fishes, and shows a mosaic of characters exhibited by both the osteoostia and some placoderms, as well as by the cartilaginous and teleost fishes. ”
of result appear in the diary National Science Review.
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Carol J. Barrow others. 3D brain box of early jawed vertebrates spondylosis From Australia. National Science Reviewpublished online on December 3, 2024. Doi: 10.1093/nsr/nwae444
The Shengshan culture of the lower Yangtze region of ancient China plays a central role in understanding the origins of rice cultivation and early alcoholic fermentation. To address these questions, the researchers examined artifacts from the early stages of the Kaminoyama site, 10,000 to 9,000 years ago. By analyzing microscopic artifacts such as phytoliths, starch granules, and fungi associated with pottery vessels, the researchers found that people in the upper mountains consumed rice not only as a staple food but also as an ingredient for brewing fermented beverages. Evidence suggesting the use of alcohol fermentation technology in East Asia was also found.
Locations and relics of Shangshan culture sites: (A) Locations of Shangshan, Qiaotou, and Xiaohuangshan ruins (dots) and distribution area of Shangshan culture (red circles). (B) Selected pottery shards analyzed: 1 – Cup shard. 2 – Bottle fragments. 3 – Bottle fragments. 4 – Fragment of the rim of a sandy pot. 5 – Large basin debris. 6 – Base of the ring foot bowl. (C) Corresponding complete containers: 1 – spherical jar; 2 – ring-foot bowl; 3 – cup; 4 – flat base jar. 5 – Large basin. Image credit: Liu others., doi: 10.1073/pnas.2412274121.
The origins of rice cultivation have been the subject of extensive archaeological research and debate in recent years.
Based on existing data, archaeologists generally agree that the early stages of rice domestication occurred in the lower and middle Yangtze River regions of China.
of mountain culture Zhejiang Province represents the region where rice cultivation began in the early stages.
Although the extent of rice domestication is still being investigated, recent studies suggest that this process began early.
In a new study, Professor Leping Jiang and colleagues at the Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archeology address questions related to the material and social mechanisms that may have played an important role in the exploitation and alcohol brewing of early Shangshan rice. is.
The researchers analyzed microfossils associated with early-stage pottery at the Kaminoyama site.
“These fragments were associated with different types of containers, including those for fermentation, serving, storage, cooking, and processing,” Professor Jiang said.
“We carried out microfossil extraction and analysis of residues from the inner surfaces of the pottery, the clay of the pottery, and the sediments of the surrounding cultural layers.”
“We focused on identifying phytoliths, starch grains, and fungi, providing insight into the uses of the pottery and food processing methods employed in the field,” said Professor Li Liu of Stanford University. .
Analysis of phytoliths revealed a significant presence of phytoliths from rice grown in the residue and clay.
“This evidence shows that rice was the main plant resource for the Shangshan people,” said Professor Zhang Jianping, a researcher at the Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
“There is also evidence that rice husks and leaves were used to make pottery, further proving the essential role of rice in the Joshan culture.”
The researchers found a variety of starch granules in the pottery residue, including rice, grasshopper tears, barnyard grass, Triticaceae, acorns, and lilies.
Many of the starch granules showed signs of enzymatic degradation and gelatinization, which are characteristic of fermentation processes.
Scientists also discovered an abundance of fungal elements, including: Monascus It contained mold and yeast cells, some of which showed developmental stages typical of fermentation.
These fungi are closely related to liquor starters used in traditional brewing methods, such as those used to make Hongjiujiu (Hongjiujiu) in China.
The team analyzed the following distributions: Monascus Yeast also persists in many types of ceramic containers, with higher concentrations observed in spherical jars compared to crock pots and processing tubs.
This distribution suggests that vessel type is closely associated with specific functions, and that the spherical jars were intentionally manufactured for alcoholic fermentation.
This discovery suggests that the Shangyama people employed a wide range of survival strategies during the early stages of rice cultivation, using ceramic vessels, especially spherical pots, to brew cue-based rice alcoholic beverages. Masu.
The emergence of this brewing technique in the early Uyama culture was closely related to the domestication of rice and the warm and humid climate of the early Holocene.
“Domestic rice provided a stable resource for fermentation, while favorable climatic conditions supported the development of qu-based fermentation technology that relies on the growth of filamentous fungi,” Professor Liu said.
To rule out potential contamination from soil, the authors analyzed sediment control samples and found that starch and fungal residues in these samples were significantly lower than pottery residues. It became.
This finding strengthens the conclusion that residues are directly related to fermentation activity.
Modern fermentation experiments using rice, MonascusThe yeast then further validated that finding by demonstrating a morphological match with fungal remains identified on Ueyama pottery.
“These alcoholic beverages likely played a pivotal role in ceremonial feasts, highlighting their ceremonial importance as a potential driver of the intensified use and widespread cultivation of rice in Neolithic China.” Professor Liu said.
“Evidence for alcoholic fermentation of rice at Shangshan indicates that this technology arose earliest in East Asia, and suggests that the complexity between rice cultivation, alcoholic beverage production, and social formation in early Holocene China It provides new insights into the interactions between
of findings will appear in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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Li Liu others. 2024. Rice beer dating back 10,000 years has been found in the mountains above the lower reaches of the Yangtze River in China. PNAS 121 (51): e2412274121;doi: 10.1073/pnas.2412274121
Approximately 1.4 million individuals in the UK have exited the online dating realm within the last year. But does this signify that the apps are ineffective, or are people simply moving away from dating altogether?
According to Ofcom’s 2024 Online Nation report, there is projected to be a notable decrease in the use of dating apps from 2023 to 2024, with a nearly 16% decline in usage of the top 10 most popular dating apps this year.
Tinder experienced the most substantial decrease, with over 500,000 users abandoning the platform since May 2023. Bumble and Hinge also suffered losses, losing 368,000 and 131,000 users, respectively, during the same period.
Experts at the Center for Love, Sex, and Relationships (CLSR) at the University of Leeds suggest that the decline in online dating could be attributed to a feeling of disconnection from reality and exhaustion with the process.
Natasha McKeever, a lecturer in applied ethics at the university and co-director of CLSR, believes that individuals perceive virtual dating as a task rather than a social activity.
McKeever points out that this detachment has led individuals to feel more at ease sending offensive messages, as they do not fear immediate consequences.
Despite the waning interest in virtual dating, data reveals that the usage of queer-focused apps and sites has remained consistent or increased.
Apart from Badoo, the app seeing growth among users is Scruff, designed for men seeking men. Apps like Grindr and Squirt, catering to the LGBTQ+ community, have experienced fewer user declines compared to platforms with a more heteronormative focus.
Sophie Goddard, a tutor in applied ethics at the University of Leeds, suggests that the gay community continues to use these platforms for a sense of safety and self-exploration.
Another reason for the dwindling interest in online dating is the dominance of a few companies in the UK market, with Match Group operating a majority of the top apps.
Luke Branning, co-director of CLSR, highlights that modern digital dating may provide the illusion of variety, but ultimately, there is little differentiation between platforms.
Branning argues that the lack of transparency in business practices and algorithms by these major companies reflects the larger issue with online dating today.
Archaeologists have announced the discovery of a new type of Neanderthal hearth in Gibraltar’s Vanguard Cave. This hearth structure is consistent with predictions from theoretical studies that require the use of heating structures to obtain birch tar commonly used in hafting. Researchers suggest that this hearth was used to burn herbs and shrubs over guano mixed with sand and heat rockrose without oxygen.
Neanderthal hearth structures may have been constructed according to the following steps: Image credit: Ochando others., doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.109025.
“The use and control of fire would have provided important adaptive benefits.” Homo and even shaped its evolution,” said Clive Finlayson of Gibraltar National Museum and colleagues.
“Manufacturing fire technology has been shown to be common from 400,000 years ago to the present, and it has probably been around for much longer.”
“A variety of studies have demonstrated the ability of Neanderthals to create, protect, and carry fire.”
“The main functions of the use of fire are related to providing heat, light and the possibility of cooking food.”
“But it could also lead to the development of new technological innovations,” they added.
“These include deliberate heat treatment of stone artifacts, durable wood, smoking purposes, and the use of distillation of birch bark and adhesives from coniferous resins to create stone flakes on wooden elements. This may include the production of hafting multi-component tools.”
“Other innovations by Neanderthals were the construction of pits and the diversification of the types of fuels used with a variety of commonly used plants, liquid hydrocarbons, and lignite.”
“However, plants are the most common type of fuel and are therefore expected to have been subject to a selection process by Neanderthals among available resources in the nearby, and perhaps even beyond, landscape.”
Special combustion structures discovered by the Vanguard Cave team have revealed previously unknown ways in which Neanderthals managed and used fire.
The structure is 68,000 to 61,000 years old and is adapted for steam distilling essential oils from rockrose to obtain tar, a hafting substance proven to have been used by Neanderthals.
The researchers tested that interpretation experimentally by building structures with similar morphological and compositional characteristics to those excavated in the cave.
Distilling a small bunch of young rockrose leaves in a closed, nearly anoxic environment for a reasonable period of time produces enough to hold two spearheads using only locally available tools and materials. of tar could be produced.
“Neanderthals had to go through a series of thought processes to choose which plants and find a way to extract the resin without burning them,” Dr Finlayson said.
“Our extinct cousins were not the brutal humans of the popular imagination,” said Dr. Fernando Muñiz, an archaeologist at the University of Seville.
“This human species has been shown to have cognitive abilities, as reflected in studies showing mastery of the industrial process of making resin as an adhesive for attaching stone points to spear handles. ”
This finding is reported in the following article: paper in a diary Quaternary Science Review.
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Juan Ochando others. 2024. Neanderthals' special combustion structure adapted to the acquisition of tar. Quaternary Science Review 346: 109025;doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.109025
Attention all ‘Ice Age’ enthusiasts: New research has uncovered the preserved remains of a 35,000-year-old saber-toothed cat which have been analyzed for the very first time. Published on Thursday in Scientific Reports.
The mummified remains of the animal, including parts of the head, arms, and chest, were unearthed in Yakutia, Russia, in 2020 in remarkably good condition, and were determined to belong to a three-week-old baby, as per the study findings.
The most distinct features of the cub were its small ears, long neck and forearms, dark brown fur, and wide mouth, according to the researchers. Comparison with modern lion cubs of the same age suggests that these cat mummies are part of the Machairodontinae subfamily, specifically the Homotherium genus – a cat with sharply curved saber teeth that thrived in North America and Europe between 12 million and 10,000 years ago.
A. shows a frozen mummy and B. shows the remains of a modern lion cub, Panthera leo (Linnaeus, 1758).Lopatin, AV, Sotnikova, MV, Klimovsky, AI, and others
Based on the study, the Homotherium cat’s ears were positioned higher on the skull and its mouth opening was 11-19% larger compared to modern lion cubs. Additionally, the neck was described as “longer and more than twice as thick” than that of present-day felines.
For those who enjoy the Ice Age film series, the depiction of saber-toothed cats might seem familiar. The character Diego, a saber-toothed tiger, shares similarities with the 35,000-year-old baby tiger.
This study marks the first investigation of this kind of site.
“For the first time in paleontological history, the characteristics of an extinct mammal with no modern counterparts have been examined,” noted the study authors.
Attempts to reach the study’s corresponding author for comment were unsuccessful at the time of publication.
A pebble with holes excavated from the ruins of Nahal Ein Geb II. Could be an ancient spindle whorl
Laurent Davin
A 12,000-year-old set of perforated pebbles unearthed in northern Israel may be the oldest known hand-spun whorls. This weaving technique may have ultimately helped inspire the invention of the wheel.
The whorl at the bottom of the spindle, which acted as a flywheel, allowed people to efficiently spin natural fibers into yarn and yarn to make clothing and other textiles. Newly discovered stone tools represent early axle-based turning technology, thousands of years before the first carts appeared, researchers say. Talia Yashuv at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
“If you look back at the discovery of the first car wheel 6,000 years ago, it didn't just come out of nowhere,” she says. “It's important to look at the functional evolution of how transportation and wheels have evolved.”
Yashuv and her colleagues leoa grossmanAlso at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, researchers studied 113 partially or fully perforated stones at the site of Nahal Ein Geb II, an ancient village just east of the Sea of Galilee. Archaeologists have been discovering these chalky, primarily limestone artifacts since 1972. It was probably made from raw pebbles found along the nearby shore.
The 3D scan revealed that the hole had been drilled part way from both sides using a flint hand drill, but unlike modern drills, it remained in the shape of a narrow, twisted cone, Yashuf said. says. A hole 3 to 4 centimeters in diameter usually passes through the center of gravity of the pebble.
Drilling holes from both sides would have balanced the stone and made it more stable to rotate, Yaszhu said. Some of the partially perforated stones had off-center holes, suggesting they may have been discarded by mistake.
Yashov said the team suspected that the stones, which weigh an average of 9 grams, would be too heavy and “ugly” to be beads, and too light and fragile to be used as fishing weights. Their size, shape, and balance around the hole led researchers to believe that these artifacts were spindle-like whorls.
To test their hypothesis, the researchers created a replica whorl using nearby pebbles and a flint drill. then they asked yonit crystalWhy not try your hand at flax spinning with a traditional craftsman?
“She was really surprised at how well they worked, because they weren't perfectly circular,” Yaszhu says. “But in reality, all you have to do is place the hole in the center of the mass, and it's balanced and works.”
If the stone is indeed a spiral, it could be the oldest known rotating spiral, she says. 1991 study of bone and antler artifacts She found what are likely 20,000-year-old whorls, but added that the researchers who examined them suggested the fragments were probably decorative accents on clothing. Still, people may have been using whorls even earlier, using wood and other biological materials that would have degraded.
The discovery suggests that people were experimenting with spinning techniques thousands of years before they invented potter's wheels and cart wheels about 5,500 years ago, and perhaps the whirlpool helped lead to those inventions. Yaszhu says it's possible.
carol cheval But a professor at the University of the Cote d'Azur in Nice, France, isn't so sure. She explains that the whorl works more like a spinning top than a wheel.
And while the artifact is very likely a whorl, the study lacks microscopic data that would reveal any traces of use, as the threads may have made their mark on the stone over time. , says Cheval.
Trace analysis is “beyond the scope” of the current study, Yashuv said.
Ideally, researchers studying ancient whorls would be skilled at spinning themselves, but the study authors said this was not the case. “It really changes the way you think about archaeological discoveries,” she says.
Being vulnerable, open, and risking rejection come with a price when putting yourself out there. Today, that price can be substantial.
Beyond just the cost of drinks and dinner, you may have already invested hundreds of pounds in a dating site to secure a date before even starting the awkward dance of who foots the bill.
How much does the app cost?
While some dating services are free, many now offer attractive add-ons for a small fee to help you find more compatible connections, get noticed faster, and get more dates. We’ve looked into what the main ones offer.
crater
Tinder is free, but you can upgrade to a paid version “to enhance your Tinder experience,” according to the website.
Photo: Martin Bülow/AFP/Getty Images
Tinder is free, but you can upgrade to a paid version for an enhanced experience, with prices starting at £7 per month and going up to around £50 according to their press team.
There are three subscription tiers (Plus, Gold, and Platinum) offered at varying prices. Plus options range from £4.99 to £19.94 per month in 2021, gold ranges from £13.99 to £29.49, and platinum from £18.14 to £36.49.
Different users may be charged different prices based on factors like age, as revealed by a survey by a consumer group “Which?”.
hinge
The free version of Hinge allows eight likes and messages to matches per day. Two paid subscriptions promise double the dates.
Hinge+ costs £14.99 per week, £24.99 per month, £49.99 for three months, and £74.99 for six months.
HingeX costs £24.99 per week, £44.99 per month, £89.99 for three months, and £129.99 for six months.
With Gold membership, it takes an average of 3 months to find a partner and leave Muzz.
Photo: Mikhailo Polenok/Alamy
Scientists discovered fossils in Argentina’s Santa Cruz province
Mariana Chubar et al., Journal (2024)
The beautifully preserved fossilized tadpoles are the oldest discovered by science, dating back 161 million years, and their anatomy is strikingly similar to some of today’s species. I am.
Paleontologists discovered the fossil in January 2020 while searching for feathered dinosaurs in Argentina’s Santa Cruz province.
“They missed the mark,” says Mariana Churivar of Universidad Maimonides in Buenos Aires, Argentina. “But after many days of digging, one of our team members discovered a stone with a special signature: a fossilized tadpole.”
Chubar and her colleagues have now identified this tadpole as belonging to an extinct frog species. Notobatrachus degiustoiwas deciphered from hundreds of adult specimens discovered in the same fossil deposit since 1957.
Until now, scientists had never unearthed tadpole fossils from before the Cretaceous period, which began about 145 million years ago. This specimen is also the first fossil tadpole from an early frog lineage known as stalk anurans, which is older than modern species known as crown anurans.
This fossil is very well preserved, with eyes and nerves visible in the head, forelimbs, and part of the tail. The researchers estimate that it was about 16 centimeters long, comparable to the largest tadpole in existence today.
The part of the skeleton that supports the gills suggests that the specialized filter-feeding anatomy of modern tadpoles had already evolved in this fossilized tadpole, Chubar said.
The similarities between ancient and modern tadpoles are so great that the researchers were even able to determine the developmental stage in the fossils, concluding that they were just about to undergo metamorphosis into frogs.
Illustration of tadpoles and adults of the species Notabatrachus degiustoi
Gabriel Rio
Earth’s warm, humid climate in the past, combined with the lack of competition and predation from other frog species and fish, may have made it easier for tadpoles to grow large, Chubar said.
Jody Lowry The Australian Museum in Sydney said the discovery of the oldest known tadpole “confirms how successful and stable the ‘typical’ frog life cycle we all learn about in school is.”
The size of the tadpoles tells us a lot about the habitat in which frogs evolved more than 160 million years ago, a water-rich environment with few predators or competitors, she says. “This is something modern frog species can only dream of.”
named Arasemenia triaa new specimen from the Wutong Formation in China's Anhui Province, dates to the Famennian period of the Late Devonian, making it the second oldest known winged seed.
fertile branches and seeds Arasemenia tria. Image credit: Wang others., doi: 10.7554/eLife.92962.3.
Many plants require seeds to reproduce. Seeds come in all shapes and sizes and often have additional features that help them disperse throughout the environment.
For example, some seeds develop wings from the seed coat as the outer layer. This is similar to the fruit of the plane tree, which has two wings that help it glide on the wind.
The first seeds are thought to have evolved during the Famennian period, between 372 and 359 million years ago.
According to the fossil record, almost all of these seeds were surrounded by additional protective structures known as couples and were wingless.
To date, only two groups of Famennia seeds have been reported to have wings or wing-like structures, and one group lacked couples.
“The oldest known plant seeds date back to the late Devonian period,” said Professor Deming Wang of Peking University.
“This period marks an important evolutionary milestone in plant history, as it transitioned from spore-based reproduction like ferns and mosses to seed-based reproduction.”
“However, little is known about wind dispersal of seeds during this period, as most fossils lack wings and are usually surrounded by a protective copple.”
Professor Wang and colleagues examined fossils of Famennian seed plants collected in China's Anhui province.
assigned to a new genus and species; Arasemenia triathe seeds are about 2.5-3.3 cm long and, unlike most other seeds of this era, clearly lack a cupple.
“In fact, this is one of the oldest known records of coppleless seeds, 40 million years earlier than previously thought,” the paleontologists said.
“Each seed is covered by a layer of integument, or seed coat, which radiates outward to form three wing-like leaves.”
“These wings tapered toward the tip and curved outward, creating a wide, flat structure that helped the seeds catch the wind.”
The researchers then compared Arasemenia tria Other known winged seeds from the Late Devonian: Warstenia and guasia.
Both of these seeds have four wings — guasiais wide and flat; WarsteniaIt's short and straight.
Scientists performed quantitative mathematical analysis to determine which seeds are most effective for wind dispersal.
This reveals that it has an odd number of wings, as follows: Arasemenia triaa more stable and high rotation speed is obtained when the seeds descend from the branches, and the seeds can catch the wind more effectively and disperse further from the parent plant.
“Our findings are Arasemenia tria This further deepens our knowledge about the origins of wind-driven dispersal strategies in early land plants,” said Dr. Pu Fan, a researcher at the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
“When combined with previous knowledge, guasia and WarsteiniaWe conclude that winged seeds as a result of integument elongation emerged as the first form of wind dispersal strategy in the Late Devonian, prior to other methods such as parachutes and plumes. ”
“The three-winged seed found in” Arasemenia tria “During the late Devonian period, double-winged seeds would have appeared in the Carboniferous period, and single-winged seeds would have appeared in the Permian period,” Professor Wang added.
The newly discovered theropod and ornithopod dinosaur footprints date back to the Early Cretaceous period, more than 120 million years ago, when Australia was still connected to Antarctica.
Melissa Lawley and Anthony Martin examine dinosaur footprints. Image by Ruth Showalter.
Dinosaur footprints from the Early Cretaceous period have been discovered in the Wonthaggi Formation south of Melbourne, Australia.
These include 18 footprints of medium to large theropods (0.8-1.9 metres waist height) and four footprints of small ornithopod dinosaurs (40-48 centimetres waist height).
“These numerous footprints provide the best evidence yet that polar environments once supported large carnivores,” said Professor Anthony Martin of Emory University.
“Large theropods probably fed on prey such as smaller dinosaurs, fish and turtles.”
“The hip height of this theropod would have been roughly the same as the height of a tall modern human.”
“Rocky coastal strata in Victoria, Australia, mark the spot where the ancient supercontinent Gondwana began to break up about 100 million years ago, separating Australia from Antarctica.”
“The polar environment at that time was a rift valley with a network of rivers running through it.”
“Although the average annual temperature during the Cretaceous period was higher than today, ecosystems experienced freezing temperatures and months of darkness during polar winters.”
“The Wonthaggi Formation has produced one of the best assemblages of polar dinosaur fossils in the Southern Hemisphere, but most of these fossils are small fragments of bone and teeth.”
“These pieces may have been carried to the buried site by heavy spring rains.”
“However, the discovery of so many theropod footprints confirms that a wide variety of dinosaurs did in fact live and walk on the surface where the bones were found.”
“Dinosaur footprints are actually more common here than we previously thought.”
Theropod footprints in the Wonthaggi Formation range in length from 18 to 47 cm (7 to 18.5 in).
They have relatively thin toes and sharp claw tips.
Ornithopod tracks vary in size from 10 to 18 cm (4 to 7 in).
The range of footprint sizes suggests that they may represent a mixture of juvenile and adult ornithopods and theropods.
“This suggests that these dinosaurs may have been nesting and raising their young in polar environments,” Prof Martin said.
This discovery paper of Archealinga, Australian Journal of Palaeontology.
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Anthony J. Martin othersPolar dinosaur footprints from the Wonthaggi Formation (Lower Cretaceous), Victoria, Australia, and their palaeontological significance. Archealinga, Australian Journal of PalaeontologyPublished online September 8, 2024; doi: 10.1080/03115518.2024.2392498
The alternative relationship dating app has experienced global expansion and nearly doubled its revenue last year, thanks to non-monogamous, queer, and kinky users.
Founded by an entrepreneurial couple in an open relationship, Feeld is “on a mission to elevate the human sexual and relationship experience” from its registered office in Carlisle, Cumbria.
Feeld has surged in popularity due to the increasing interest in non-traditional relationship structures like polyamory. Last year marked its first time filing full accounts with Companies House.
The company’s revenue increased from £20.7 million to £39.5 million, with profits rising from £2.4 million to £5.5 million in 2023.
Most revenue comes from outside the UK, with £33 million in sales from overseas. The app is free to download globally but charges users for full services.
Founded in 2014 by Dimo Trifonov and Ana Kirova, Feeld (formerly 3nder) arose from their openness about their relationship.
Ana Kirova is CEO of Feeld, a company founded by her partner Dimo Trifonov. Photo: Field
Kirova joined the company early on when it faced legal issues with Tinder. She became CEO in 2023 and led a rebranding and tech upgrade to resolve initial glitches.
Company filings show ownership shifts since Kirova’s appointment, with Trifonov transferring shares to her. Previously, Trifonov owned the majority of shares.
Feeld’s growth involves strategic decisions rather than aggressive expansion. The company values member feedback and aims to support their personal journeys.
The company’s innovative approach has set it apart in the dating app industry, reflecting changing trends and member response.
Feeld’s growth story includes overcoming challenges, like a lawsuit from Tinder, to expand its team from eight in 2016 to nearly 50 employees.
Archaeologists say Genovesa Cave Discovered in Mallorca, the main Balearic island and the Mediterranean's sixth largest, the find suggests that humans settled in the western Mediterranean much earlier than previously thought.
5,600-year-old underwater stone bridge in Genovesa Cave, Mallorca, Spain. Image courtesy of R. Landreth.
Limited archaeological evidence makes it difficult to reconstruct early human colonization of the Balearic Islands in the western Mediterranean.
By studying the 7.7-metre (25-foot) submerged bridge, Professor Bogdan Onak of the University of South Florida and his colleagues were able to provide compelling evidence of prior human activity within Genovesa Cave.
“The presence of this underwater bridge and other artefacts indicates a high level of activity and suggests that early settlers were aware of the cave's water resources and strategically built infrastructure to navigate through them,” Prof Onak said.
Genovesa Cave, located near the coast of Mallorca, has had parts of its passage flooded by rising sea levels and has clear calcite deposits when sea levels were higher.
These layers, along with the light-colored bands on the submerged bridge, act as markers to precisely track historical sea-level changes and pinpoint the date of the bridge's construction.
Previous studies had suggested a human presence at the site as far back as 9,000 years ago, but inconsistencies in nearby carbon-dated bones, pottery and other evidence, as well as poor preservation, had left the findings in doubt.
Recent studies have used charcoal, ash and bones found on the island to create a timeline of human settlement dating back about 4,400 years ago.
This allows the timeline of human presence to coincide with important environmental events, such as the extinction of the goat antelope. Myotragus balearix.
By analysing the bridge's mineral overgrowths and the height of the bridge's colour bands, the authors found that the bridge was built around 6,000 years ago – more than 2,000 years older than previous estimates, narrowing the gap in the timelines between eastern and western Mediterranean settlements.
“The history of the bridge's construction appears to be closely linked to the rapid Holocene sea-level rise just before 6,000 years ago and the brief period of sea-level stillness that caused parts of the upper part of the cave to be flooded,” the researchers said.
“Our chronology shows that sea-level rise stopped and stabilized for several hundred years, between 5,964 and 5,359 years ago. During this time, so-called phreatic expansions of speleothems (POS) formed in the cave lake and the characteristic 'bathtub ring' formed on the bridge.”
“Construction of the bridge probably began early in this period, as it was needed to cross the 0.25 metre deep lake, but it must have been completed before 5,600 years ago, when the upper part of the bridge was submerged.”
“Evidence suggests that humans constructed a cobblestone path and a sturdy bridge leading to the cave's water pool, facilitating access to the only dry part of the cave, located in the Sala d'Entrada across the lake.”
“The exact reason these structures in Genovesa Cave were built remains unclear.”
“However, the dating constraints imposed by the depth of the bridge, and the similar depths at which the POS and colour marks are found, support the idea that early humans were present on the island by 5,600 years ago, potentially extending the date back to 6,000 years ago.”
a paper A paper describing the findings was published in the journal Neurology today. Communication Earth and the Environment.
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BP Onac others2024. An underwater bridge built at least 5,600 years ago marks early human arrival on the Spanish island of Mallorca. Community Global Environment 5, 457; doi: 10.1038/s43247-024-01584-4
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